Indian chestnut vine
Tetrastigma leucostaphylum

Family: Vitaceae

What it is like

A woody climber. The stems can be lumpy. The leaves usually have 3 leaflets. The leaflets are oblong and taper to each end. They are softly leathery. There are shallow teeth along the edge. The flowers are in groups in the axils of leaves. The fruit is round or oval and white when ripe. They are 1-2 cm across. There are 1 or 2 seeds.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It occurs in the Western Ghats in India.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Akar chabang limah, Akar papan, Horina lata, Kankong gajah, Khajorlicha vel, Kond draaksha, Pirantaikkoti

Synonyms

Cissus leucostaphyla Dennst.; Tetrastigma lanceolarum Planch.; Vitis leucostaphylum (Dennst.) B. D. Jacks; Vitis lanceolaria Wall.; and others