Cissus phymatocarpa Masinde & L.E.Newton

Vitaceae, Bernard Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1993

Morphology General Habit

Climber; root-tubers present; stems jointed, with quadrangular and quinquangular segments on the same plant (often only one sort present on herbarium sheets); quadrangular segments usually rectangular and quinquangular segments pentagonal in their cross-sections; internodes 2.5–16 cm. long, 0.4–1.3 cm. wide, nodes slightly constricted, in older stems, angles straight, reddish brown; quinquangular segments sometimes with fifth angle less pronounced appearing simply as an additional structure.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves broadly elliptic-ovate, 1.8–6.5 cm. long, 1.5–3 cm. wide, glabrous, shiny, thick (± 1 mm.), fleshy, not flexible, easily snapping when folded in two, margins sparingly serrated with hardened brownish teeth; petioles 2–5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers yellowish green, 3–4 mm. long, 2–3 mm. wide, petals sometimes faintly maroon.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruits oblong-ovoid, 0.9–1.5 cm. long, 0.9–1.2 cm. wide, prominently warty.

Habitat

Coastal bush and thickets on coral rock and forest edges; 0–900 m.

Distribution

K4 K7 P T3 T6 T8 Z not known elsewhere