Cissampelos hirta

Family: Menispermaceae

What it is like

A herb that grows attached to other plants. It can be a climber. The branches have lines along them. The leaves are simple and deeply heart shaped. There is a short tip. There are 5-7 veins from the base spread out like fingers on a hand. Male and female flowers are separate. The flowers are small and 1 mm long and green. The fruit is flattened and fleshy and sometimes has some hairs.

There are about 20 Cissampelos species.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, East Africa, Eswatini, Mozambique, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland

How it is used for food

The leaves are eaten as a green vegetable. The ripe fruit are eaten as a dessert fruit.

Edible parts

Leaves, fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Cissampelos pareira L. var. klotzschii Dur. & Schinz; Cissampelos tamnifolia Miers;