Common Name:

General Information

Cissus cornifolia is an erect shrub growing up to 2 metres tall, or a scrambler arising from a large swollen, fire-resistant rootstock that is sometimes watery[].
The edible fruits are gathered from the wild for local consumption. They are a favourite wild fruit for children and travellers. The plant is sometimes grown as an ornamental[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Cote D'Ivoire to Eritrea, Ethiopia and Kenya, south through eastern Africa to eastern DR Congo, Botswana, Mozambique and S. Africa.

Habitat

Brachystegia woodland, thickets, grasslands, often on granite outcrops, sometimes on black soil, occasionally found in cultivated land, at elevations from 100 - 1,500 metres[]. Conspicuous growth is often noted after bush fires.

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Shrub
Height	2.00 m
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Plants are very fire resistant, regrowing vigorously from the rootstock[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[]. The ripe fruits, which resemble grapes and are borne in large clusters, are eaten raw by squeezing the fruit into the mouth, swallowing the sweet pulpy seeds and discarding the outer skin[]. The red-purple-black, smooth hairless berries are about 1cm in diameter, juicy when ripe, containing one seed[].

Medicinal

The rootstock is used as medicine for stomach-ache[].

The roots are used to treat hernia and bilharzia[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -
Suckers

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