Cyphostemma njegerre

(Gilg & Strauss) Desc.

Wild vine

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Wikimedia Commons - Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz

Description

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.

Edible Uses

The ripe fruit are juicy and sweet, eaten raw as a snack or pressed, strained, and consumed as juice.

Traditional Uses

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.

Distribution

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

Where It Grows

Africa, East Africa, Tanzania,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seeds or cuttings.

Propagation

Seed - Cuttings

Production

In Tanzania ripe fruit are collected from February to June.

Synonyms

Cissus njegerre Gilg.

References (2)

Ruffo, C. K., Birnie, A. & Tengnas, B., 2002, Edible Wild Plants of Tanzania. RELMA p 250
World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew