Parthenocissus semicordata

Family: Vitaceae

What it is like

A climbing shrub. It has tuberous roots. The vine loses its leaves during the year. It has tendrils that are divided. It climbs 5-8 m high. The leaves have stalks 9 cm long. The leaves have 3 leaflets divided like fingers on a hand. There are teeth around the edge. The leaflets are about 8 cm long by 5 cm wide but the end leaflet is slightly longer and more narrow. The flowers are green and contain both sexes. There can be 100-200 flowers in a cluster. The fruit are round and black. The fruit have 2-4 seeds. The seeds are 4-5 mm long by 2-3 mm wide.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in forests between 500-1,500 m above sea level. In the Indian Himalayas it grows between 2,000-2,800 m above sea level. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Thailand, Tibet, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are juicy and slightly acid and are eaten.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

A vine may yield 750 g of fruit.

Its other names

Local names

Amru bail, Arem tsukme-natsu, Bara churcheri, Bhambti, Chappar tang, Laderi, Ladula, Phlankur

Synonyms

Ampelopsis himalayana Royle; Parthenocissus cuspidifera var. pubifolia C. L. Li; Parthenocissus himalayana (Royle) Planch.; Parthenocissus himalayana var. rubrifolia (H. Lev. & Vaniot) Ganep.; Parthenocissus himalayana var. vestita (Royle) Hand.-Mazz.; Parthenocissus semicordata var. rubrifolia (H. Lev. & Vaniot) C. L. Li; Psedera himalayana (Royle) C. K. Schneid.; Vitis himalayana (Royle) Brandis; Vitis himalayana var. semicordata (Wall.) Wall.; Vitis himalayana var. semicordata (Wall.) M. A. Lawson; Vitis rubrifolia H. Leb. & Vaniot; Vitis semicordata Wall.; Vitis semicordata var. himalayana (Royle) Kurz ex Hance;