Cissus producta

Family: Vitaceae

What it is like

A small creeper. It arises from a tuberous rootstock. The stems are square. There are a few hairs. It has tendrils. The leaves are simple. The leaf blade is 10 cm long by 6 cm wide. They are oval and have some teeth near the ends. The flowering stalks are 4-10 cm long and opposite the leaves. The flowers are pink. The fruit are black or red and 1.5 cm long by 1 cm wide. There is one seed about 13 mm long by 8 mm wide.

There are about 200-350 Cissus species. There are about 75 species in tropical America.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in the forest. In Malawi it grows along the shores of the lake and near streams. It grows up to 1.050 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Equatorial-Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Malawi, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Southern Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves are eaten as a vegetable. They are acid. The stem yield water when cut.

Edible parts

Leaves, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Bu telen, Tomboro porane

Synonyms

Cissus esaso Gilg; Cissus polycymosa De Wild.; Vitis producta (Afzel.) Baker;