Cissus
Encyclopedia
Cissus is a genus
of approximately 350 species
of woody
vine
s in the grape
family (Vitaceae
). They have a cosmopolitan distribution, though the majority are to be found in the tropics. In Tamil
they are known as pirandai (பிரண்டை).
has been evaluated for potential medical uses. As a source of carotenoid
s, triterpenoid
s and ascorbic acid
the extracts may have potential for medical effects, including "gastroprotective activity" and benefits in terms of "lipid metabolism and oxidative stress". Cissus quinquangularis was used by the Maasai people of Kenya
to relieve some of the symptoms of malaria
.
and C. alata are cultivated as garden plants.
of some Lepidoptera
species including Hypercompe eridanus
and Hypercompe icasia
.
word κισσος (kissos), meaning "ivy
". In the 1980s the genus was split according to some details of the flower. The large caudiciform
species were moved to the new genus Cyphostemma
.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of approximately 350 species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of woody
Woody plant
A woody plant is a plant that uses wood as its structural tissue. These are typically perennial plants whose stems and larger roots are reinforced with wood produced adjacent to the vascular tissues. The main stem, larger branches, and roots of these plants are usually covered by a layer of...
vine
Vine
A vine in the narrowest sense is the grapevine , but more generally it can refer to any plant with a growth habit of trailing or scandent, that is to say climbing, stems or runners...
s in the grape
Grape
A grape is a non-climacteric fruit, specifically a berry, that grows on the perennial and deciduous woody vines of the genus Vitis. Grapes can be eaten raw or they can be used for making jam, juice, jelly, vinegar, wine, grape seed extracts, raisins, molasses and grape seed oil. Grapes are also...
family (Vitaceae
Vitaceae
Vitaceae are a family of dicotyledonous flowering plants including the grapevine and Virginia creeper. The family name is derived from the genus Vitis...
). They have a cosmopolitan distribution, though the majority are to be found in the tropics. In Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
they are known as pirandai (பிரண்டை).
Medicinal
Cissus quadrangularisCissus quadrangularis
Cissus quadrangularis is a perennial plant of the grape family. It is commonly known as Veldt Grape or Devil's Backbone.- Distribution :...
has been evaluated for potential medical uses. As a source of carotenoid
Carotenoid
Carotenoids are tetraterpenoid organic pigments that are naturally occurring in the chloroplasts and chromoplasts of plants and some other photosynthetic organisms like algae, some bacteria, and some types of fungus. Carotenoids can be synthesized fats and other basic organic metabolic building...
s, triterpenoid
Triterpenoid
Triterpenoids are terpenoid derviatives of triterpene molecules.They may have useful anti-cancer properties.Notable examples*Betulinic acid, possible anti-cancer drug*Bardoxolone methyl, inflammation modulator*Triterpenoid saponins...
s and ascorbic acid
Ascorbic acid
Ascorbic acid is a naturally occurring organic compound with antioxidant properties. It is a white solid, but impure samples can appear yellowish. It dissolves well in water to give mildly acidic solutions. Ascorbic acid is one form of vitamin C. The name is derived from a- and scorbutus , the...
the extracts may have potential for medical effects, including "gastroprotective activity" and benefits in terms of "lipid metabolism and oxidative stress". Cissus quinquangularis was used by the Maasai people of Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
to relieve some of the symptoms of malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
.
Ornamental
Cissus antarcticaCissus antarctica
Cissus antarctica, called "kangaroo vine", is one of the best known species of the genus Cissus in the family of Vitaceae. It is a climbing plant, a vine, and comes from Australia.-Cultivation:...
and C. alata are cultivated as garden plants.
Ecology
Cissus species are used as food plants by the larvaeCaterpillar
Caterpillars are the larval form of members of the order Lepidoptera . They are mostly herbivorous in food habit, although some species are insectivorous. Caterpillars are voracious feeders and many of them are considered to be pests in agriculture...
of some Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera is a large order of insects that includes moths and butterflies . It is one of the most widespread and widely recognizable insect orders in the world, encompassing moths and the three superfamilies of butterflies, skipper butterflies, and moth-butterflies...
species including Hypercompe eridanus
Hypercompe
Hypercompe is a genus of moths of the family Arctiidae. There are over 80 species found throughout the Americas. Several species were formerly separated in Ecpantheria which is now regarded as a junior synonym. They are typically large moths with white forewings heavily spotted with black, and...
and Hypercompe icasia
Hypercompe
Hypercompe is a genus of moths of the family Arctiidae. There are over 80 species found throughout the Americas. Several species were formerly separated in Ecpantheria which is now regarded as a junior synonym. They are typically large moths with white forewings heavily spotted with black, and...
.
Taxonomy
The generic name is derived from the GreekGreek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
word κισσος (kissos), meaning "ivy
Ivy
Ivy, plural ivies is a genus of 12–15 species of evergreen climbing or ground-creeping woody plants in the family Araliaceae, native to western, central and southern Europe, Macaronesia, northwestern Africa and across central-southern Asia east to Japan and Taiwan.-Description:On level ground they...
". In the 1980s the genus was split according to some details of the flower. The large caudiciform
Caudex
A caudex is a form of stem morphology appearing as a thickened, short, perennial stem that is either underground or near ground level . It may be swollen for the purpose of water storage, especially in xerophytes...
species were moved to the new genus Cyphostemma
Cyphostemma
Cyphostemma is a flowering plant genus belonging to the family Vitaceae. These species are caudiciform and used to belong to the genus Cissus...
.
Selected species
|
Formerly placed here
- Ampelopsis glandulosa var. brevipedunculata (Maxim.) Momiy (as C. brevipedunculata Maxim.)
- Ampelopsis orientalis (Lam.) Planch. (as C. orientalis Lam.)
- Ampelopsis vitifolia Planch. (as C. vitifolia Boiss.)
- Cayratia geniculataCayratia geniculataCayratia geniculata is a species of plant native to Asia. It has woody vines and 3-foliolate leaves....
(Blume) Gagnep. (as C. geniculata Blume) - Cayratia trifoliaCayratia trifoliaCayratia trifolia is a species of liana plant native to Australia and Asia. It has black-colored berries, and its leaves contain several flavonoids, such as cyanidin and delphinidin. Hydrocyanic acid is present in the stem, leaves and roots....
(L.) Domin (as C. trifolia (L.) K.Schum.) - Cyphostemma bainesiiCyphostemma bainesiiCyphostemma bainesii is a species of tree native to Namibia in Southern Africa. It grows up to 1 m in height, with green leaves up to 27 centimeters long by 11 wide....
(Hook.f.) Desc. (as C. bainesii (Hook.f.) Gilg & M.Brandt) - Cyphostemma cirrhosumCyphostemma cirrhosumCyphostemma cirrhosum is a species of plant native to Southern Africa. It is a soft-stemmed creeper with succulent, yellowish-green leaves. It bears yellow flowers and red, oval-shaped fruit....
(Thunb.) Desc. (as C. cirrhosa (Thunb.) Willd.) - Cyphostemma curroriiCyphostemma curroriiCyphostemma currorii is a succulent tree belonging to the family Vitaceae and reaching a height of 6 meters or more. This plant is also known as cobas tree and butter tree. Cyphostemma currorii is found in hot, arid rocky places, and has been seen from southern Angola to Namibia and is common on...
(Hook.f.) Desc. (as C. currorii Hook.f. or C. crameriana Schinz) - Cyphostemma juttaeCyphostemma juttaeCyphostemma juttae is a slow-growing succulent species of Cyphostemma, well-known as an ornamental plant. The plant is also known as bastard cobas, wild grape, tree grape, Namibian grape, and Droog-my-keel. This species can reach 6 feet tall and has large shiny leaves.-References:*van Wyk, B. and...
(Dinter & Gilg) Desc. (as C. juttae Dinter & Gilg) - Rhoicissus tomentosaRhoicissus tomentosaRhoicissus tomentosa is a vigorous, evergreen vine that is indigenous to the afro-montane forests of southern Africa...
(Lam.) Wild & R.B.Drumm. (as C. capensis Willd. or C. tomentosa Lam.) - Strychnos umbellata (Lour.) Merr. (as C. umbellata Lour.)
- Tetrastigma leucostaphylum (Dennst.) Alston ex Mabb. (as C. lanceolaria Roxb. or C. leucostaphyla Dennst.)
- Tetrastigma serrulatum (Roxb.) Planch. (as C. serrulata Roxb.)