Adenia cissampeloides explained

Adenia cissampeloides is a species of flowering plant in the passionflower family, Passifloraceae. It is native to tropical Africa.

Description

Adenia cissampeloides is a woody vine that can reach up to in length.[1] The stems are pale green to gray green and can be spotted. The leaves have smooth edges and are punctate (marked with dots), with a cordate (heart-shaped) to truncate (square) base. A. cissampeloides is monecious: it has unisexual flowers that occur in inflorescences. Male flowers have free or connate (fused together) filaments. Fruits are capsules with one to three fruits occurring per inflorescence.

Taxonomy

It was first described in 1849 as Modecca cissampeloides. In 1897, it was moved to the genus Adenia.[2]

Distribution and habitat

Adenia cissampeloides is currently found naturally in rainforests, swamps, and savannas in Africa.

Uses

It has several different human uses from medicine to consumption. Along with several other plants, it is used in Ghana in traditional medicines as a treatment for malaria.[3] The leaves can be cooked and eaten as a vegetable.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: CJB - African plant database - Detail. www.ville-ge.ch. 2019-11-14.
  2. Web site: International Plant Names Index. www.ipni.org. 2019-11-21.
  3. Annan. Kofi. Sarpong. K. Asare. C. Dickson. R. Amponsah. Ki. Gyan. B. Ofori. M. Gbedema. Sy. 2012. In vitro anti-plasmodial activity of three herbal remedies for malaria in Ghana: Adenia cissampeloides (Planch.) Harms., Termina liaivorensis A. Chev, and Elaeis guineensis Jacq. Pharmacognosy Research. 4. 4. 225–229. 10.4103/0974-8490.102270. 0974-8490. 3510876. 23225967 . free .
  4. Book: Useful plants of Nyasaland. Edited by P.J. Greenway.. Williamson. Jessi. Greenway. Percy James. Printed and published by the Govt. Printer. Zomba, Nyasaland.