Snake climber, Green stem
Adenia gummifera

Family: Passifloraceae

What it is like

A climber. It is a succulent plant with a swollen base. It is a creeper with tendrils. The stems are grey. The leaf stalks are slender and 3 cm long. There is a small gland at the top. The leaf blades are 4 cm long. They have 3 broad blunt lobes. The edges are slightly wavy. The flowering shoots are in the axils of the leaves. These stalks are slender. The flowers are greenish-yellow. The fruit are oval and 2.5 cm long. The seeds are white with a netted surface.

There are 95 Adenia species. They are common in the semiarid regions of Africa.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It is widespread in hilly country in Malawi. In grows in rainforest and along rivers. It suits humid locations. It grows below 1,700 m above sea level. In Tanzania it grows between 1 and 500 m above sea level. It grows in rocky and stony dry soils. It can grow in arid places. It can grow on termite mounds.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

CAUTION: Most Adenia are poisonous. The young leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. The very ripe fruit are eaten as a dessert fruit.

It is a commonly used leaf in Mozambique.

Edible parts

Leaves, flowers, fruit, vegetable

How it is grown

It can be grown by seeds or cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Alfakunso, Beleha, Bopa, Bopa-vhafy, Bopha, Cimboyi, Deveramvumi, Dovosha, Dovoza, Gole, Imfulo, Impinda, Infulwa, Kimboyi, Kinboyi, Komboponoke, Kungu-mti, Lukenda, Mandali, Mdozi, Mkengeti, Mkuta, Mlozi, Monkey rope, Msambafumu, Muboori, Mulozi, Munua-nyoka, Murride, Nancuta, Slangklimop, Wore

Synonyms

Adenia cissampeloides Harms; Adenia rhodesica Suess.; Modecca gummifera Harv.; Ophiocaulon cissampeloides sensu Baker; Ophiocaulon gummifer Master;