Cissus carnosa
Roxb.
Treebine
gbif· cc-by-nc
University of Vermont
Description
A climbing shrub. It grows 3-5 m high. The branches are slender and have furrows along them. The leaves are compound. There are 3 leaflets. These are broadly oval. The leaves are fleshy. They are 1.5-3.5 cm long by 1.2-2.5 cm wide. The middle leaflet is longer. The leaf stalk is 1.5-3 cm long. It has tendrils which are thin like a hair and branched. The flower head is 4-5 cm wide. It can be in the axils of leaves or at the ends of branches. The flowers have petals 2 mm long. The fruit is a round berry. It is flattened at both ends. It is 1.5-2 cm across. It is shiny black when ripe. There are 3-4 seeds. These are triangular and wrinkled. They are 3-4 mm across.
Edible Uses
The green fruit is blanched and added to foods, particularly to give a bitter flavour to hot sauces.
Traditional Uses
The green fruit is blanched then added to foods to give a bitter flavour to hot sauces.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Distribution
A tropical plant. It is commonly found along roadsides and in scrub.
Where It Grows
Asia, India, Indochina, Pakistan, SE Asia, Thailand,
Other Information
It is sold in markets.
Notes
There are about 200-350 Cissus species. There are about 75 species in tropical America.
Also Known As
Thao khan
References (3)
- Flora of Pakistan. www.eFloras.org
- Jacquat, C., 1990, Plants from the Markets of Thailand. D.K. Book House p 79
- Rajkalkshmi, P. et al, 2001, Total carotenoid and beta-carotene contents of forest green leafy vegetables consumed by tribals of south India. Plant Foods for Human Nutrition 56:225-238
