Velvetleaf

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Velvetleaf

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cyclea madagascariensis
• Dissopetalum mauritianum
• Cissampelos pareira var. monoica
• Cissampelos discolor var. cardiophylla
• Cissampelos pareira var. peltata
• Cissampelos consociata
• Cissampelos convolvulacea
• Cissampelos grallatoria
• Cissampelos guayaquilensis
• Cissampelos haenkeana
• Cissampelos hederacea
• Cissampelos limbata
• Cissampelos littoralis
• Cissampelos obtecta
• Cissampelos orinocensis
• Cissampelos pareira f. emarginatomucronata
• Cissampelos pareira var. gardneri
• Cissampelos pareira var. laevis
• Cissampelos pareira var. racemiflora
• Cissampelos perrieri
• Cissampelos pilgeri
• Cissampelos poilanei
• Cissampelos salzmannii
• Cissampelos subpeltata
• Cissampelos subreniformis
• Cissampelos violifolia
• Stephania convolvulacea
• Pericampylus membranaceus
• Cissampelos pareira subvar. crassifolia
• Cissampelos pareira var. australis
• Cissampelos pareira subvar. madagascariensis
• Cissampelos pareira var. caapeba
• Cissampelos pareira subvar. usambarensis
• Cissampelos pareira subvar. wakefieldii
• Cissampelos pareira var. nephrophylla
• Cissampelos pareira var. haenkeana
• Cissampelos pareira var. mauritiana
• Cissampelos pareira var. hirsuta
• Cissampelos pareira var. wildei
• Cissampelos pareiroides
• Cissampelos pata
• Cissampelos pareira var. tamoides
• Cissampelos littoralis var. minutiflora
• Cissampelos longipes
• Cissampelos hirsuta
• Cissampelos hirsutissima
• Cissampelos glaucescens
• Cissampelos gracilis
• Cissampelos heterophylla
• Cissampelos kohautiana
• Cissampelos mauritiana
• Cissampelos microcarpa
• Cissampelos madagascariensis
• Cissampelos nepalensis
• Cissampelos nephrophylla
• Cissampelos myriocarpa
• Cissampelos monoica
• Cissampelos reticulata
• Cissampelos testudinum
• Cissampelos tetrandra
• Cissampelos elata
• Cissampelos ellenbeckii
• Cissampelos eriantha
• Cissampelos eriocarpa
• Cissampelos discolor
• Cissampelos diversa
• Cissampelos cumingiana
• Cissampelos delicatula
• Cissampelos cordifolia
• Cissampelos diffusa
• Cissampelos argentea
• Cissampelos auriculata
• Cissampelos australis
• Cissampelos benthamiana
• Cissampelos boivinii
• Cissampelos bojeriana
• Cissampelos caapeba
• Cissampelos cocculus
• Cissampelos canescens

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae and order Ranunculales, it is further categorized into the family Menispermaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is established under the genus Cissampelos.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse distribution across several key regions of the African continent. In West-Central Tropical Africa, its presence has been documented in Rwanda. Moving toward Northeast Tropical Africa, it can be found spanning across Ethiopia, Somalia, and the territories of Sudan and South Sudan. Additionally, the species extends its reach into East Tropical Africa, specifically within Kenya. Collectively, these locations highlight a wide longitudinal spread throughout the tropical zones of Africa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cisampelos pareira is characterized by its remarkable adaptability across a vast array of diverse ecosystems and significant altitudinal gradients. It occupies a wide vertical distribution, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to elevations of 2800 m AMSL. This broad environmental tolerance allows the species to thrive in varied habitats, including anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), the semi-arid Caatinga (stricto sensu), and the specialized sandy environments of Campinarana. It is also found in open landscapes such as Campo de Várzea, Campo Limpo, and Campo Rupestre, as well as within the diverse biomes of the Cerrado (latu sensu). Furthermore, its ecological presence extends into complex forest structures, including Gallery or Riparian Forests (Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria), Igapó forests, Terra Firme forests, Várzea forests, Seasonal Deciduous Forests (Floresta Estacional Decidual), and Seasonal Semi-deciduous Forests (Floresta Estacional Semidecidual).

Elevational range max:

2800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Caatinga (stricto sensu), Campinarana, Campo de Várzea, Campo Limpo, Campo Rupestre, Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria, Floresta de Igapó, Floresta de Terra Firme, Floresta de Várzea, Floresta Estacional Decidual, Floresta E

Life history

The life history of Cissampelos pareira is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth strategy, the plant is classified as a phanerophyte, specifically exhibiting a life form that supports its climbing or woody habit. This classification as a phanerophyte, alongside its identification within the broader phanerophyte life form category, underscores its ability to maintain its buds and growing points well above the soil surface, facilitating its development as a robust medicinal climber.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cissampelos pareira is characterized by a woody, shrub-like growth form that functions as an obligatory climbing vine. Reaching a mean plant height of approximately 2 meters, this species exhibits a liana-like habit, utilizing climbing mechanisms to ascend through its environment. It is a terrestrial plant, existing independently without parasitic tendencies, and does not exhibit epiphytic behavior, maintaining a strictly land-based existence. The structural integrity of the plant is defined by its woody nature, providing the necessary support for its sprawling, climbing development.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

vine

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cissampelos pareira is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common metabolic strategy among many dicotyledonous plants where carbon fixation occurs via the Calvin cycle without the specialized adaptations seen in C4 or CAM species. This pathway involves the initial fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide into a three-carbon compound, facilitating the synthesis of carbohydrates necessary for the plant's growth and the production of its bioactive secondary metabolites. Regarding its nutrient acquisition, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer; it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria typically found in root nodules of certain legumes, relying instead on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium ions directly from the surrounding soil substrate.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cissampelos pareira is characterized by a specific phenological cycle and specialized biological mechanisms for pollination and dispersal. The flowering period typically begins in April and extends through September, though the timing can be variable. The plant utilizes a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces seeds with highly consistent physical properties; the seeds maintain a mean, minimum, and maximum volume of 18 mm³, and a consistent mass of 0.00599 g. Once mature, the seeds are distributed via a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, meaning they are spread through the movement of animals, ensuring the continuation of the species across its habitat.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

Sep

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass mean:

0.00599 g

Seed volume max:

18 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cissampelos pareira has 2 reported plant parts identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, leaf.

Root

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Ancient science of life
3. Journal of clinical and diagnostic research : JCDR
4. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Cissampelos pareira has 23 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Hayatinine, (+)-Curine, Bebeerine, Benzylisoquinolines, Bisbenzylisoquinolines.

Hayatinine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Computational biology and chemistry

(+)-Curine

1. Dr. Duke

Bebeerine

1. Dr. Duke

Benzylisoquinolines

1. Computational biology and chemistry

Bisbenzylisoquinolines

1. Computational biology and chemistry

CISSAMPAREINE

1. Dr. Duke

Cissamine

1. Dr. Duke

Curine

1. Computational biology and chemistry

Cyclanoline

1. Dr. Duke

Cycleanine

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Cissampelos pareira has 50 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimalarial, Antiarthritic, Antioxidant, Antipyretic, ACE-Inhibitor.

Antimalarial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Computational biology and chemistry
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Ancient science of life

Antiarthritic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antipyretic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiaggregant

1. Dr. Duke

Antialopecic

1. Dr. Duke

Antianginal

1. Dr. Duke

Antiarrhythmic

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Cissampelos pareira has 14 reported medicinal uses identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include fever, malaria, COVID-19, antimalarial, arthritis.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations