Tetrastigma obovatum

Family: Vitaceae

What it is like

A vine. It is a woody creeper. The stems are slightly flat and have ridges along them. They are hairy. The leaves have 5 leaflets arranged like fingers on a hand. They are hairy underneath. The side leaflets are narrowly oval and 7-20 cm long by 4-10 cm wide. There are teeth along the edge. The fruit is a round orange berry. It is 2-3 cm across. There are 2 or 3 seeds.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows on the edges of forests and in valleys between 200-1,900 m above sea level in southern China. It grows in Yunnan in China.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, India, Indochina, Laos, Myanmar, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw. The leaves are used to give a sour taste.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Rieza

Synonyms

Vitis obovata M. A. Lawson; not Raf, or Baker