Kingdom Plantae Family Vitaceae Rank Species | Order Vitales Genus Cissus | |
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Similar Cissus oblonga, Cissus repanda, Cissus adnata, Rhoicissus tomentosa, Cissus erosa | ||
Cissus cornifolia (Baker) Planch. is an erect or semi-scandent woody shrub up to 3m in height belonging to the grape family of Vitaceae, and found from sub-Saharan Africa and Tropical Africa south to Botswana, Mozambique and South Africa. It is one of more than 300 species forming the genus Cissus.
Contents
Growing from a large tuberous rootstock and found up to 2000m, in open woodland and grassland, often on granite outcrops, it occasionally develops tendrils. Branch nodes are conspicuously swollen and new parts of the plant have a ferruginous, floccose covering, persisting on the bracts.
Pharmacology and ethnic use
Roots or tubers are powdered or a decoction is prepared and used to treat venereal diseases, naso-pharyngeal infections, fevers and malaria. The plant is traditionally used as a sedative. Tubers and fruits are eaten and used for flavouring in sauces. An analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, steroids/terpenoids, stilbenoids and tannins.
Etymology
The generic name is derived from κισσος or 'kissos', a Greek word for "ivy" - 'cornifolia', having leaves resembling those of Dogwood (Cornus spp.),