Common Name:

General Information

Cercestis afzelii is a climbing plant producing stems up to 17 metres long. These stems are up to 6cm in diameter, they scramble over the ground and attach themselves to the surrounding vegetation by means of flagella - these are whip-like organs derived from inflorescences and bearing adventitious feeder roots and sometimes reflexed spines[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of materials. It is sometimes traded in local markets[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

West tropical Africa - Senegal to Nigeria.

Habitat

Open places in secondary forests[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Climber
Height	15.00 m
Pollinators	Flies
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The plant is analgesic and sedative[]. Preparations are taken as a purgative and against excessive sensitivity to stimulation of the heart[].

The leaves are applied as a poultice on burns[].

The ground stem, mixed with water, is drunk as a remedy for gonorrhoea[].

Extracts from the leaves have shown bacteriostatic activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis, and some activity against the fungi Candida albicans and Cladosporium cucumerinum[].
The leaves contain saponins[].

Other Uses

The long and strong stems are used in construction, woven into mats, baskets and fishing nets and are used to tie drums[].

Propagation

Seed -

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