Wild vine
Cyphostemma njegerre

Family: Vitaceae

What it is like

A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It climbs with tendrils. It can be 12 m long. The branches are slender and along with the leaves and flowers are covered with hairs. They can be red to purple. The leaves usually have 3 leaflets. These are broadly oval and 3-13 cm long by 7 cm wide. The 2 side leaflets have stalks and are one sided. The flowers are cream and in loose heads. They are 16-21 cm wide. The stalks are 3-6 cm long. The fruit are oval red berries. They are 1 cm long and 6 mm wide.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in the rainforest between 700-900 m above sea level. It suits humid locations.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, East Africa, Tanzania

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are juicy, sweet and are eaten raw as a snack. The ripe fruit are also soaked in water and squeezed and filtered and the juice used as a drink.

Edible parts

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds or cuttings.

In Tanzania ripe fruit are collected from February to June.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Cissus njegerre Gilg.;