Native grape, Variegated grape
Cissus repens

Family: Vitaceae

What it is like

An evergreen vine. It will climb to 3-15 m high and spread to 3 m across. The stem is woody and it is a vigorous climber. Young shoots are shiny and dark purple. They are succulent. The leaves are 4-15 cm long by 3-8 cm wide. The leaves are bluish green and white on top and purple underneath. They are heart shaped. The flowers are yellow and in small clusters opposite the leaves. The fruit are black oval berries. They are about 1 cm across. They occur in bunches along the stem.

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

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It prefers humus rich, well drained soils. It needs a protected, shaded position. It is drought and frost tender. It grows in cooler rainforests. It often spreads over the ground. In Assam it grows in the plains and hills up to 3,000 m above sea level. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Andamans, Asia, Australia, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Sikkim, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten but they burn the throat and tongue. The fruit are edible but sour. The young leaves are cooked and eaten. They are used in soups. The leaves are used to make a tea like drink. The stems are used in curries. The roots are cut into small pieces and finely ground and used to add a spicy flavour to rice.

Edible parts

Leaves, shoots, fruit, roots - spice

How it is grown

Plants are grown from stem cuttings which strike easily. They can also be grown from seed which germinate easily when fresh.

Fruit are ripe in Australia from May to July. Flowers and fruit occur in India from February to March.

Its other names

Local names

Akar kura, Arej hariang, Basil, Hariang arej, Hrui-pawl, Jia herap, Kalit-kalit, Kunchen-rik, Mei-ja-khajrap, Panilahera, Pureni, Purnia lahara, Qie-maaba, Sambung tulang, Song hie, Soru harjhora, Taruphakhe, Tarupakhu, Voe sannda

Synonyms

Cissus cordata Roxb.; Cissus diffusa (Miq.) Amshoff; Cissus glauca Roxb.; Cissus glaucoramea Planch.; Cissus modesta (Miq.) Amshoff; Cissus purpurea Roxb. ex Steud.; Cissus vesicatoria Blanco; Vitis diffusa Miq.; Vitis glauca (Roxb.) Wight & Arn.; Vitis modesta Miq.; Vitis repens (Lam.) Wight & Arn.;