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Useful Tropical Plants

Cissus verticillata

(L.) Nicolson & C.E.Jarvis

Vitaceae


Some of the uses reported here are for the species Cissus sicyoides L.[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
]. Whilst some treatments still maintain this as a distinct species, the majority of more recent works now treat it as a synonym of Cissus verticillata, the treatment we have followed here[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

+ Synonyms

Cissus andraeana Planch.

Cissus canescens Lam.

Cissus compressicaulis Ruiz & Pav.

Cissus cordifolia L.

Cissus digitinervis Ram.Goyena

Cissus elliptica Schltdl. & Cham.

Cissus gonavensis Urb. & Ekman

Cissus lamarckiana Schult. & Schult. F.

Cissus nitida Vell.

Cissus obscura DC.

Cissus obtusata Benth.

Cissus officinalis Klotzsch

Cissus ovata Lam.

Cissus ovata Rich.

Cissus pallida Salisb.

Cissus plumeri Planch.

Cissus puncticulosa Rich.

Cissus sicyoides L.

Cissus smilacina Kunth

Cissus tamoides Cambess.

Cissus tucumana Suess.

Cissus umbrosa Kunth

Cissus venatorum Descourt.

Cissus verticillata laciniata (Baker) Lombardi

Hedera unifolia Vell.

Irsiola sicyoides (L.) Raf.

Phoradendron verticillatum (L.) Druce

Viscum verticillatum L.

Vitis cordifolia (L.) Morales

Vitis elliptica (Schltdl. & Cham.) Hemsl.

Vitis obtusata (Benth.) Hemsl.

Vitis sicyoides (L.) Baker

Vitis sicyoides (L.) Miq.

Vitis sicyoides (L.) Morales

Vitis vitiginea canescens (Lam.) Kuntze

Vitis vitiginea compressicaulis (Ruiz & Pav.) Kuntze

Vitis vitiginea cordifolia (L.) Kuntze

Vitis vitiginea elliptica (Schltdl. & Cham.) Kuntze

Vitis vitiginea laciniata (Baker) Kuntze

Vitis vitiginea ovata (Lam.) Kuntze

Vitis vitiginea sicyoides (L.) Kuntze

Vitis vitiginea smilacina (Kunth) Kuntze

Vitis vitiginea tamoides (Cambess.) Kuntze

Common Name: Princess Vine

Cissus verticillata
A vigorously-growing plant, it is smothering the tree it has climbed
Photograph by: Forest and Kim Starr
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0
Cissus verticillata Cissus verticillata Cissus verticillata Cissus verticillata Cissus verticillata

General Information

Princess vine is often a very large, woody climbing shrub, frequently clambering over tall trees and supporting itself by means of coiled tendrils, or scrambling over the ground[
331
Title
Flora of Guatemala
Publication
 
Author
Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
Website
http://www.archive.org/
Publisher
 
Year
1946 - 1976
ISBN
 
Description
A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
,
369
Title
Flora of Costa Rica
Publication
 
Author
Standley P.C.
Website
http://www.archive.org/
Publisher
Field Museum of Natural History; Chicago
Year
1938
ISBN
 
Description
Rather dated, but an excellent treatment of the area. Available for download from the internet.
,
422
Title
Fruits of the Guianan Flora
Publication
 
Author
van Roosmalen. M.G.M.
Publisher
Institute of Systematic Boyany, Utrecht University; Netherlands.
Year
1985
ISBN
90-9000988-4
Description
Terse descriptions of over 1,700 species from the Guianas that bear fruits - not necessarily edible! Often mentions if the fruit is edible, plus gives brief description of habit and habitat.
]. The plant emits many long aerial roots that dangle loosely from the tree branches or sometimes strike root in the ground. If the main stem is cut, the upper part of the plant continues to grow[
331
Title
Flora of Guatemala
Publication
 
Author
Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
Website
http://www.archive.org/
Publisher
 
Year
1946 - 1976
ISBN
 
Description
A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a source of fibres, soap and medicines. It is occasionally cultivated for its medicinal uses, and more commonly for its ornamental value[
317
Title
Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details of a huge range of useful plants.
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

331
Title
Flora of Guatemala
Publication
 
Author
Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
Website
http://www.archive.org/
Publisher
 
Year
1946 - 1976
ISBN
 
Description
A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/

Range

S. America - Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, throughout S. America and Central America to Mexico; Caribbean - Trinidad, through the Caribbean to Florida.

Habitat

Common or abundant in dry to wet thickets and forest, at elevations up to 1,200 metres[
331
Title
Flora of Guatemala
Publication
 
Author
Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
Website
http://www.archive.org/
Publisher
 
Year
1946 - 1976
ISBN
 
Description
A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
].

Properties

Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitClimber
Height20.00 m
Cultivation StatusCultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details



Called 'picamano' in Honduras and 'bejuco loco' in Tabasco. This is one of the most common and widely distributed of tropical American plants. It exhibits a great deal of variation in pubescence and leaf form, as a result of which numerous varieties have been named. Perhaps someone may find a basis for separating satisfactorily some of these forms, but with present material the lines of division are vague[
331
Title
Flora of Guatemala
Publication
 
Author
Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
Website
http://www.archive.org/
Publisher
 
Year
1946 - 1976
ISBN
 
Description
A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

When cut, the stems yield a copious watery sap, which is mildly diuretic[
331
Title
Flora of Guatemala
Publication
 
Author
Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
Website
http://www.archive.org/
Publisher
 
Year
1946 - 1976
ISBN
 
Description
A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
,
348
Title
Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
Publication
 
Author
DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
Website
http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
Publisher
Smithsonian Museum
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
]. It is drunk as a treatment for fevers[
317
Title
Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details of a huge range of useful plants.
,
348
Title
Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
Publication
 
Author
DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
Website
http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
Publisher
Smithsonian Museum
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].
The sap is applied externally as a treatment for gangrene[
331
Title
Flora of Guatemala
Publication
 
Author
Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
Website
http://www.archive.org/
Publisher
 
Year
1946 - 1976
ISBN
 
Description
A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
].
The sap is generally believed to cause blisters upon the skin, although we have never seen this demonstrated[
331
Title
Flora of Guatemala
Publication
 
Author
Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
Website
http://www.archive.org/
Publisher
 
Year
1946 - 1976
ISBN
 
Description
A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
].

A decoction of the crushed stems, combined with wood ashes, is applied to the wounds of cattle. It is said to change the colour of their hair, which later resumes its natural colour[
331
Title
Flora of Guatemala
Publication
 
Author
Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
Website
http://www.archive.org/
Publisher
 
Year
1946 - 1976
ISBN
 
Description
A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
].

The crushed leaves are applied externally as a poultice to treat snakebite, thrush, ulcers, sores, swellings etc., and to hasten the opening of boils[
348
Title
Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
Publication
 
Author
DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
Website
http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
Publisher
Smithsonian Museum
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].

Other Uses

The stems and roots are thick, tough and very flexible[
331
Title
Flora of Guatemala
Publication
 
Author
Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
Website
http://www.archive.org/
Publisher
 
Year
1946 - 1976
ISBN
 
Description
A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
,
369
Title
Flora of Costa Rica
Publication
 
Author
Standley P.C.
Website
http://www.archive.org/
Publisher
Field Museum of Natural History; Chicago
Year
1938
ISBN
 
Description
Rather dated, but an excellent treatment of the area. Available for download from the internet.
]. They are often used as cordage and, in Costa Rica, baskets are made from them[
331
Title
Flora of Guatemala
Publication
 
Author
Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
Website
http://www.archive.org/
Publisher
 
Year
1946 - 1976
ISBN
 
Description
A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
].

The leaves, when macerated in water, give a suds like that of soap, which is sometimes utilized for washing clothes[
331
Title
Flora of Guatemala
Publication
 
Author
Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
Website
http://www.archive.org/
Publisher
 
Year
1946 - 1976
ISBN
 
Description
A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
,
369
Title
Flora of Costa Rica
Publication
 
Author
Standley P.C.
Website
http://www.archive.org/
Publisher
Field Museum of Natural History; Chicago
Year
1938
ISBN
 
Description
Rather dated, but an excellent treatment of the area. Available for download from the internet.
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-29. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Cissus%20verticillata>

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