Cissus repens

Cissus repens is a species of tropical rainforest vine in the grape family. It is found in various parts of Asia including Malaysia. This vine is recorded as far south as Cape York Peninsula and the wet tropics region of north eastern Queensland, Australia. It has heart shaped leaves, near them on the stem is the tendril. The specific epithet repens is from the Latin, meaning “creeping”.

Description

An evergreen vine. It will climb to 3-15 m high and spread to 3 m across. The stem is woody and it is a vigorous climber. Young shoots are shiny and dark purple. They are succulent. The leaves are 4-15 cm long by 3-8 cm wide. The leaves are bluish green and white on top and purple underneath. They are heart shaped. The flowers are yellow and in small clusters opposite the leaves. The fruit are black oval berries. They are about 1 cm across. They occur in bunches along the stem.

Edible Uses

The ripe fruit are eaten fresh though they produce a burning sensation in the throat and tongue; they are also sour. Young leaves are cooked and eaten in soups, or made into a tea-like drink. The stems are used in curries, and the roots are finely ground to add a spicy flavour to rice.

Traditional Uses

The ripe fruit are eaten but they burn the throat and tongue. The fruit are edible but sour. The young leaves are cooked and eaten. They are used in soups. The leaves are used to make a tea like drink. The stems are used in curries. The roots are cut into small pieces and finely ground and used to add a spicy flavour to rice.

Known Hazards

The ripe fruit burn the throat and tongue when eaten.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It prefers humus rich, well drained soils. It needs a protected, shaded position. It is drought and frost tender. It grows in cooler rainforests. It often spreads over the ground. In Assam it grows in the plains and hills up to 3,000 m above sea level. In Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Andamans, Asia, Australia, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Philippines, SE Asia, Sikkim, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from stem cuttings which strike easily. They can also be grown from seed which germinate easily when fresh.

Production

Fruit are ripe in Australia from May to July. Flowers and fruit occur in India from February to March.

Notes

There are about 200-350 Cissus species. There are about 75 species in tropical America.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Akar kura, Arej hariang, Basil, Hariang arej, Hrui-pawl, Jia herap, Kalit-kalit, Kunchen-rik, Mei-ja-khajrap, Panilahera, Pureni, Purnia lahara, Qie-maaba, Sambung tulang, Song hie, Soru harjhora, Taruphakhe, Tarupakhu, Voe sannda

References (42)

• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 127
• Arora, R. K., 2014, Diversity in Underutilized Plant Species - An Asia-Pacific Perspective. Bioversity International. p 47
• Beasley, J., 2011, Plants of Tropical North Queensland - the compact guide. Footloose publications. p 122
• Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 259
• Burkill, I.H., 1966, A Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Malay Peninsula. Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Vol 2 (I-Z) p 2287 (As Vitis repens)

More from Vitaceae

Cissus paullinifolia

Cissus pentagona

Sona-tola

Cissus petiolata

Cissus phymatocarpa

Cissus populnea

Treebine

Cissus producta