veldt grape

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• veldt-grape
• winged treebine
• Single-stemmed Wild Grape
• Finger Cactus

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Vitis quadrangularis
• Saelanthus quadragonus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, scientifically known as Cissus quadrangularis, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Vitales and the family Vitaceae. Ultimately, it is classified under the genus Cissus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Cissus quadrangularis, exhibits a specific distribution across several nations within the West Tropical Africa region. It can be found growing in the territories of Benin and Burkina. Furthermore, its presence extends into the coastal and inland areas of Gambia. The species is also documented within the borders of Guinea-Bissau. Finally, its geographical range includes the tropical landscapes of the Ivory Coast.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cissus quadrangularis is characterized by its preference for diverse terrains ranging from dry bushland and wooded grasslands to the margins of dry forests. It frequently colonizes rocky sites and thrives in riparian environments, often found growing along luggas and rivers where moisture availability may fluctuate. This species occupies a specific altitudinal niche, typically found at elevations ranging from a minimum of 300 m AMSL to a maximum of 1000 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

300 m AMSL

Habitat :

dry bushland or wooded grassland, often rocky sites, or along luggas and rivers, occasionally dry forest margins

Life history

The life history of Cissus quadrangularis is characterized by its existence as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its reproductive organs and stems are elevated above the ground level, typically manifesting as a succulent, climbing vine that utilizes various supports to thrive in its habitat. The plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage in response to seasonal changes or environmental stressors.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cissus quadrangularis is characterized by its growth as a woody herb that functions as an obligatory liana. This climbing plant exhibits a robust structure, capable of reaching a mean plant height of approximately 10 m. As an independent organism, it does not rely on a host for nutrition, and its lifestyle is strictly terrestrial rather than aquatic or epiphytic. The plant's physical form is defined by its woody stems, which support its climbing habit as it scales surrounding structures.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cissus quadrangularis is characterized by its specialized succulent anatomy, which facilitates efficient water storage and metabolic processes in arid environments. The plant utilizes a modified stem structure that serves both as a photosynthetic organ and a reservoir for moisture, allowing it to maintain turgidity during periods of drought. Its metabolic pathways are optimized for carbon assimilation through Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) or a modified C3 pathway, depending on environmental stressors, to minimize transpirational water loss. In terms of nutrient acquisition, the plant does not engage in symbiotic associations for atmospheric nitrogen uptake; specifically, it is not a nitrogen fixer, as indicated by the absence of root nodules or specialized bacterial symbioses required for the nitrogen_fix_1 process. Instead, it relies on the absorption of mineral nitrogen, such as nitrates and ammonium, from the surrounding soil through its root system to support its rapid growth and structural development.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cissus quadrangularis is primarily facilitated through the production of seeds, which exhibit specific morphological and weight characteristics essential for its dispersal and survival. The seed mass within this species shows a measurable range of variation, reflecting the biological diversity of its reproductive output. Specifically, the seed mass typically maintains a mean value of 0.06993 g. Throughout different reproductive cycles or individual samples, this weight can fluctuate, reaching a maximum recorded mass of 0.10479 g and a minimum recorded mass of 0.05518 g. These quantitative traits underscore the precise energetic investment the plant makes into its progeny to ensure successful establishment in its natural habitat.

Seed mass max:

0.10479 g

Seed mass mean:

0.06993 g

Seed mass min:

0.05518 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cissus quadrangularis has 2 reported plant parts identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include stem, leaf.

Stem

1. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology
2. Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]
3. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
4. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
5. Natural product research

Leaf

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Chemicals

Cissus quadrangularis has 41 reported phytochemicals identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Phytosterols, ascorbic acid, polyphenols, quercitrin.

Flavonoids

1. Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]
2. Biomarkers : biochemical indicators of exposure, response, and susceptibility to chemicals
3. Frontiers in plant science

Phytosterols

1. Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]
2. Biomarkers : biochemical indicators of exposure, response, and susceptibility to chemicals

ascorbic acid

1. Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]
2. Biomarkers : biochemical indicators of exposure, response, and susceptibility to chemicals

polyphenols

1. Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]
2. Biomarkers : biochemical indicators of exposure, response, and susceptibility to chemicals

quercitrin

1. Natural product research
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Aloe emodin

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Alpinetin

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Natural product research

Bioflavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

COX

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Cissus quadrangularis has 14 reported activities identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Anabolic, Analgesic, Antibacterial, Anticonvulsant.

Antioxidant

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine
2. Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]
3. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
4. PloS one
5. Frontiers in pharmacology

Anabolic

1. Journal of cellular physiology

Analgesic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antibacterial

1. Cancer treatment and research communications

Anticonvulsant

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Antiepileptic

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Antifungal

1. Cancer treatment and research communications

Antimicrobial

1. Cancer treatment and research communications

Antiulcer

1. Cancer treatment and research communications

Anxiolytic

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Medicinal Uses

Cissus quadrangularis has 66 reported medicinal uses identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include hemorrhoids, asthma, osteoporosis, bone fractures, epilepsy.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations