Simple-leaved wild grape
Ampelocissus africana

Family: Vitaceae

What it is like

A large climbing herb. It grows 2-8 m high. It has soft stems. These arise from a large fairly soft underground rootstock. The young branches are densely hairy. It has tendrils. The leaves are simple. The leaf blade is 20 cm across. It is broadly oval. There are teeth along the edge. The base is heart shaped. The flowers are in clusters. They are small and greenish-yellow. The fruit is 1 cm across. The fruit are blackish berries. The fruit have large seeds. The seeds are shiny and brown. They are 7 mm long by 4 mm wide.

There are about 95 Ampelocissus species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in savanna in rocky places. It does not grow in humid soils. It grows in woodland and at the edges of forests. It is most common in the lowlands. In Zimbabwe it grows in areas with a rainfall between 500-650 mm per year. It can grow in arid places. It grows in hot, dry climates.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Southern Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The root is used in sauces and for flavouring. The ripe fruit are eaten as a dessert fruit. It is also eaten raw as a snack. The young leaves are cooked and used as a sauce or side dish.

Edible parts

Fruit, root - flavouring, leaves

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds or by cuttings.

The vines emerge, grow, flower and fruit within 3 months. In Tanzania fruit are collected between April and August. The stems are cut to harvest the leaves.

Its other names

Local names

Amajambe, Anunu, Ghoe, Ianbi, Kalimbwe, Mubanta, Mudzambiringa, Muzinda-ngulube, Mzabibu pori, Olok, Rogon daji

Synonyms

Ampelocissus asarifolia (Bak.) Planch.; Ampelocissus chantinii (Carriere) Planch.; Ampelocissus gourmaensis A. Chev.; Ampelocissus grantii (Baker) Planch.; Ampelocissus hardyi (Planch.) Galet; Ampelocissus mossambicensis (Klotzsch) Planch; Ampelocissus schliebenii Werderm.; Ampelocissus volkensii Gilg.; Ampelopsis africana Steud.; Botria africana Lour.; Pareira brava Lour. ex Gomes Mach.; Vitis africana Spreng.; Vitis asarifolia Baker; Vitis chantinii Carriere; Vitis grantii Baker; Vitis hardyi Planch.; Vitis mossambicensis Klotzsch;