Cyphostemma vanmeelii

Family: Vitaceae

What it is like

An erect herb. It grows 60 cm tall. The stems have lines along them. They have hairs. The leaves have 3-5 leaflets arranged like fingers on a hand. The leaflets are 28 cm long by 9 cm wide. They are narrowly oval and have teeth along the edge. The flower buds are cream with reddish tips. The fruit are red and 1 cm across. They are round and hairy. There is one seed 5 mm long.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in open woodland. It can be on termite mounds.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Congo, East Africa, Tanzania, Zambia

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Bombolio

Synonyms

Cissus stipulaceoides Dewit; Cissus vanmeelii Lawalree; Cyphostemma stipulaceoides (Dewit) Desc.;