This species can easily be confused with Cercestis mirabilis. The uses described for that species may, therefore, be equally applicable to this species[].

Common Name:

General Information

Cercestis camerunensis is a herbaceous perennial climbing plant producing vigorous stems. The stems scramble over the ground and climb into the surrounding vegetation, attaching themselves by means of clasping roots[, ].
The plant is likely to be harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of fibre.
This is a widespread species with no major wide-ranging threats. It is, however, potentially threatened by forest clearing for agriculture. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

West tropical Africa - Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon.

Habitat

Understory of dense and wet forest, often on damp or swampy soil; gallery forest in savannah; at elevations up to 1,000 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial Climber
Height	0.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Cercestis camerunensis is a plant of the lowland, humid tropics, where it can be found at elevations up to 400 metres[].

The plant can be cut back quite severely when harvesting it. New shoots are soon produced from the lower stem[]

Edible Uses

The following uses are for Cercestis mirabilis. This species can be easily confused with C. mirabilis and it is quite likely that the uses also apply here.

Young leaves and inflorescences - cooked and eaten as a vegetable[].

Medicinal

The following uses are for Cercestis mirabilis. This species can be easily confused with C. mirabilis and it is quite likely that the uses also apply here.

The leaves are cooked in butter made from moabi nuts (Baillonella toxisperma), together with an unspecified fungus, and eaten to treat liver complaints and stitch. The leaves may also be combined with the bark of various trees, the rhizome of Sarcophrynium species and seeds of chilli to treat the same ailment[]s. The leaf sap is taken in draught with kaolin, melegueta pepper (Aframomum melegueta) and rock salt to treat heart troubles and to stop vomiting[].

Other Uses

The following uses are for Cercestis mirabilis. This species can be easily confused with C. Mirabilis and it is quite likely that the uses also apply here.

The long pendulous roots are used as ties for yams[].
The central fibrous core of the roots is used as a fishing line[].

Propagation

Seed -

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