Common Name:

General Information

Cyclea barbata is a slender herbaceous climbing plant with stems that can become somewhat woody and persist. The stems can be up to 8 metres long, growing from a slightly fleshy, tuberous rootstock[, ].
The plant is occasionally cultivated, but is mainly gathered from the wild as a food and for its use in traditional medicine[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

E. Asia - southern China, eastern India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia.

Habitat

Found in forest, including teak forest and bamboo forest, and in grassland with scrub vegetation, sometimes on limestone, at elevations up to 1,100 metres[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Climber
Height	8.00 m
Pollinators	Flies, Bees
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Cultivated plants produce fruit erratically, so propagation is usually by stem or root cuttings. Cuttings from young woody stems, 25 - 30 cm long, are planted near hedges, trees or trellises, for support at a later stage. Cuttings may also be planted in the field at a spacing of 2 metres x 1.5 metres, supported by stakes, under shade trees[].
A first harvest of the leaves from stem cuttings can be expected after 6 - 8 months. Consecutive harvests are at intervals of 2 - 3 months[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[].

Edible Uses

The leaves are used in Java to prepare a jelly called 'cincau' or 'cincau hijau' (green cincau), which is used as a refreshment and as a medicine against stomach complaints[]. The leaves are crushed in water and the mixture left to set. It is usually eaten with a sweet syrup[].
To make a good quality jelly only young well-developed leaves should be used. The shelf-life of the jelly at ambient temperature is around 1 - 2 days[]..

Medicinal

A decoction made of the roots is used in local medicine against fever[]. The very bitter taste is due to the alkaloid 'cycleine'[]. The roots have a high content of starch and around 10% fat[].

The leaves are used in Java to prepare a jelly called 'cincau' or 'cincau hijau' (green cincau), which is used as a refreshment and also as a medicine against stomach complaints[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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