Cissus cactiformis Gilg

Glabrous succulent grey-green or green and liver-coloured climber or scrambler 1.2–4.5 m. long; root-tubers present; stems quadrangular with massive wings, constricted at the nodes, striate and wrinkled in the dry state; faces 2–7(–8) cm. wide; wings or lobes 0.2–3 cm. wide the reddish brown horny margins usually markedly crinkly; internodes (5–)11–17 cm. long; tendrils straw-coloured, stout, 15–40 cm. long, simple, ridged and glabrous.. Leaves rarely seen, succulent, palmately lobed, 1–2 cm. long, 0.9–3.7 cm. wide; stipules ovate, 7 mm. long, 5 mm. wide.. Inflorescences several-branched, up to 10(–15) cm. long or sometimes ± fasciculate with axes suppressed, glabrous; peduncles and axes 1–3.5 cm. long; ultimate umbel-like elements 7–10 mm. long and wide; pedicels purple-tipped, ± 3 mm. long, glabrous; bracts triangular to lanceolate, 3–4 mm. long, ± amplexicaul, scarious.. Calyx purplish outside, depressed cupular, 1–1.5 mm. diameter, glabrous.. Petals greenish yellow or greenish white, often flushed dull purplish outside, oblong-ovate, 2–2.5 mm. long, 1.5 mm. wide, cucullate, glabrous.. Ovary and style green, stigma yellow.. Filaments green; anthers yellow.. Fruits subglobose, green with minute pale green dots, turning red then purple, 0.9–1.3 cm. long, 0.8–1 cm. wide, smooth.. Seed ovoid, 8 mm. long, 6 mm. wide, smooth.. Fig. 9; 10/1, 2, p.42.