Adenia cissampeloides (planch. ex Benth.) Harms

Somewhat woody climber up to 25 m. high, up to 10 cm. thick at base; twigs pale green to grey-green, often pruinose, spotted or not.. Leaf-blades slightly to strongly punctate, often ± glaucous beneath, not lobed, suborbicular to bluntly 5-angular, base cordate to truncate, top subobtuse to rounded, sometimes retuse, 3–14 cm. across, 3(–5)-nerved from base, and with 1(–2) pairs of ± straight nerves from the midrib ending in marginal glands; reticulation only clearly visible in the coarser veins; margin entire; petiole 2–9 cm.. Gland at blade-base single, on a median circular to spathulate appendage 1–3 mm.; blade-glands (0–)2–4, rather approximate to the axils of the upper main nerves; marginal glands 2–7 at either side of the blade.. Stipules broadly rounded, sometimes lacerate, ± 0.5 mm.. Inflorescences peduncled for 1.5–15(–20) cm., up to 20-flowered in male, 2–6-flowered in female, tendrils 0 or 1–3, 0.5–2(–4) cm.; sterile tendrils simple or 3-fid, 10–20 cm.. Male flowers ± campanulate, including the 2–4.5 mm. long stipe (10–)12–15 mm.; hypanthium cup-shaped, ± 1(–1.5) by 2–3 mm.; calyx-tube 0; sepals oblong-lanceolate, obtuse to subacute, (6–)7–9 by 2–3 mm., subentire, ± punctate; petals lanceolate or oblanceolate, obtuse to subacute, 7–10 mm., 3–5-nerved, fimbriate-laciniate in upper half, sparingly punctate or not; filaments 1.5–2.5 mm., free or up to half-way connate, inserted at the base of the hypanthium; anthers 3.5–5 mm., obtuse; septa 0–0.3 mm. high; corona 0 or consisting of 5 inconspicuous cap-shaped parts ± 0.2 mm. high; disk glands 0.. Female flowers campanulate, including the 0.5–2 mm. long stipe 6–10 mm.; hypanthium flattish, 0.5–0.7 by 2–3 mm.; calyx-tube 0; sepals oblong-lanceolate, subacute, 5–8 mm., entire, punctate or not; petals lanceolate to linear, 3–6.5 mm., 1-nerved, subentire, punctate or not; staminodes 0.5–1 mm., ± connate at base; septa ± 0; corona an inconspicuous fleshy annulus; disk glands 0; gynophore 0.3–1 mm.; ovary broadly ovoid to ellipsoid, ± 3(–6)-ribbed or-angled, 3–6 mm., smooth or finely warty or punctate; style 0.5–1 mm., stigmas 3(–4), subsessile, subglobose or flattened, papillate, each 1–1.5 mm. in diameter.. Fruits 1–3 per inflorescence, broadly ovoid to ellipsoid or ± fusiform, sometimes distinctly (3–)4–6(–8)-angular, excluding the 1–2 mm. long gynophore 1.5–3.5 by 1.2–2.5 cm.; pericarp coriaceous or woody, 0.5–1 mm. thick, smooth or inconspicuously warted or pitted, spotted or not.. Seeds 30–60 per capsule, ovoid, 3–3.5 mm.

It is a tropical plant. It grows from sea level to 1,600 m altitude. It grows in palm groves. It is recorded at 1,800 m above sea level in Nigeria.

CAUTION: Most Adenia are poisonous. The leaves are cooked and eaten as a side dish. They are often cooked with potash.

Can be grown by cuttings or seedlings.