Cissus petiolata Hook.f.

Vitaceae, H. Wild and R. B. Drummond. Flora Zambesiaca 2:2. 1966

Morphology General Habit

Vigorous climber; stems ± quadrangular, glabrous, becoming woody when old and developing longitudinal corky wings up to 1·2 cm. broad on the angles; tendrils simple.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves simple, glabrous or with a few hairs on the petioles and lower surface of the leaf when young; petiole up to 10·8 cm. long but usually shorter; leaf-lamina up to 13 × 13 cm. but usually somewhat smaller, circular to broadly ovate, acuminate at the apex, margin repand-denticulate with teeth usually c. 1 mm. long, cordate at the base, 3–5-nerved at the base with 4 pairs of nerves above; stipules subcircular, glabrous, up to 1·5 × 1·5 mm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Cymes terminal and axillary, much-branched; peduncle up to 4·5 cm. long, glabrous; primary branches of inflorescence sparingly pubescent; pedicels up to 8 mm. long, pubescent, lengthening to 13 mm. in fruit and becoming glabrous.

Morphology General Buds

Flower-bud conical, up to 3 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 1 mm. long, pubescent when young.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary glabrous; style 1–2 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit c. 8 mm. in diam., glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds up to 4 per fruit, only 1 usually becoming fully developed, smooth, c. 6 mm. long with one well-marked crest and 2 subsidiary ones.

Ampelidaceae, Hutchinson and Dalziel. Flora of West Tropical Africa 1:2. 1958

Morphology General Habit

A climber with tetragonal stems becoming woody with age and bearing 4 or more corky wings

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers greenish-white

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruits reddish when ripe.

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

Morphology General Habit

Extensive somewhat succulent liane or scrambler 1.8–18 m. long or forming tangled masses on rocks and vegetation; stems 4-angled, glabrous or slightly hairy or young shoots and leaves sometimes ferruginous hairy, becoming woody and developing corky wings up to 1.2 cm. wide on the angles; tendrils usually simple.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves usually not succulent, round to broadly ovate or rhombic, (4–)7–13(–15) cm. long, (2–)5.5–13 cm. wide, acuminate at the apex, cordate at the base, repand-denticulate at the margin, rarely faintly lobed, glabrous or with a few hairs when young on nerves beneath particularly at the base, or sometimes densely ferruginous pubescent when very young, 3–5-nerved at the base; petiole 2–11 (–15) cm. long, pubescent when young; stipules ± round, 1.5–3 mm. long and wide, glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers in terminal and axillary much-branched cymes 3–8 cm. long, on old wood or young shoots, the ultimate elements umbelliform; axes sparsely to densely rusty pubescent; peduncle 1.5–4.5 cm. long, glabrous or rusty pubescent; pedicels 3–9 mm. long, spreading or adpressed rusty pubescent, lengthening to 1.3 cm. in fruit.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 1 mm. long, entire or slightly lobed, pubescent when young, soon glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals greenish white or greenish yellow, sometimes tipped purplish (also described as ‘rusty brown’), oblong, ± 3 mm. long, glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary glabrous; style 1–2 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit green, presumably turning reddish, ± globose, 8–12 mm. diameter, glabrous, 1(–4)-seeded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds subglobose 6–7 mm. long, 5.5 mm. wide, 4 mm. thick, with short basal projection and 1 well-marked crest and 2 subsidiary ones, the surface smooth.

Figures

Fig. 3.

Habitat

Forest edges, riverine forest, thicket, Acacia mixed bushland, rocky ground with scattered trees (e.g. Cussonia) and shrubs; 790–1770 m.

Distribution

K1 K2 K3 K4 K7 T1 T2 T4 T6 T7 U1 U2 U3 U4