Cyphostemma schlechteri

Family: Vitaceae

What it is like

A herb that lies along the ground. It is succulent and keeps growing from year to year. It grows 1 m high. The leaves have 3-5 leaflets spread out like fingers on a hand. The leaflet blades are fleshy and 12 cm long by 3-5 cm wide. The side leaflets are smaller. There are a few coarse teeth along the edge. The flower petals are greenish-yellow with purple tips. The fruit are orange to red and 1.4 cm long by 0.8 cm wide. They are oval. There is one seed 7 mm long by 4 mm wide.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It grows on rocky or sandy soils. It grows between 200-1,300 m above sea level in South Africa.

Countries/locations it is found in

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

How it is used for food

Caution: The fruit leave a bitter taste and may contain poisons. It presumably has oxalates.

Edible parts

Fruit, caution

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Cissus schlechteri Gilg & M. Brandt; Cissus unguiformifolius C. A. Sm.; Cyphostemma schlechteri (Gilg & M. Brandt) Desc.; Cyphostemma unguiformifolium (C. A. Sm.) Desc.;