Elbow-leaf
Tiliacora funifera

Family: Menispermaceae

What it is like

A creeper or woody climber. It can be 20 m long. The leaf blade is 5-20 cm long by 3-10 cm wide. They are broadly oval and have 3-5 veins from the base. They are dark green. They taper to the tip. The leaf stalk has a swelling and a bend below the leaf blade. The flowers are in clusters on the old stems. Male and female flowers are on separate plants. The flowers are white and 2.5 mm across. The fruit are fleshy and 5-7 mm long.

The plant contains alkaloids.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in lowland and upland rain-forest. It grows in moist shady places. It grows between 220-1,250 m above sea level. It is often on termite mounds.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo, Congo R, East Africa, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit, spice

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Cualete, Mansakasaka, Murizancumba, Nkhoka

Synonyms

Hypserpa funifera Miers; Tiliacora glycosmantha Diels; Tiliacora johannis Exell; Tiliacora pynaertii De Wild.; Tiliacora warneckei Engl. ex Diels;