Depa-vine
Cissus integrifolia

Family: Vitaceae

What it is like

A shrub or vine up to 9 m tall. It has gum like sap. It has tendrils opposite the leaves. The leaves are round or slightly long. They are about 5 cm long. They have a long drawn out tip. The flowers are yellow. The fruits are oval and 20 mm long. They are red and covered with a bloom.

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

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows amongst vegetation near rivers. In Zimbabwe it grows up to 1,100 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, East Africa, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Southern Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves are used as a relish and as a famine food. The fruit are eaten. The stems have a clear sap which is drunk.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves, stem - sap

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Chikomba, Chitafu, Dovoza, Lendja, Mkomberonda, Mpelesya, Murrupa, Mwanya, Redza, Renja, Renza, Timanziluane

Synonyms

Vitis integrifolia Baker;