Cyphostemma adenocaule Desc. ex Wild & R.B.Drumm.

Herbaceous climber or scrambler 1.5–3(–7.5) m. long from a tuberous rootstock; basal parts sometimes ± woody; stems glabrous to densely whitish or reddish pubescent or sometimes with scattered to rarely dense stalked glands; tendrils present, often red, long and slender.. Leaves pedately 5–7(-11)-foliolate; leaflets thin, elliptic or ovate to broadly ovate, 1.5–10(–11.5) cm. long, 1–6(–7.5) cm. wide, the median ones largest, acuminate or acute at the apex, cuneate to cordate at the base, serrate, glabrous to densely pubescent; petiole 1–5.5(–9.5) cm. long; petiolules of lateral leaflets 0.6–1 cm. long, of median up to 4.5 cm.; stipules often red, ovate to oblong-ovate, 6–10 mm. long, 1.5–7 mm. wide, slightly falcate, enclosing young shoot buds.. Cymes corymbose, 2–15 cm. long; peduncle 1–8(–10) cm. long; pedicels 1–4 mm. long, lengthening to 10 mm. in fruit, sometimes with stalked glands; all axes glabrescent to ± densely often ferruginous pubescent.. Buds 2–4.5 mm. long, slightly constricted at middle, glabrous to pubescent or papillate.. Calyx 0.4 mm. wide, entire.. Corolla dull pinkish mauve, white, green, yellow or greenish yellow, sometimes bright maroon in apical cucullate part, elongate-conic, ± saccate at base, glabrous to pubescent; petals narrowly oblong-triangular, 2.2–4 mm. long, 0.5–1 mm. wide.. Fruits red to purplish black, usually deflexed downwards, ellipsoid to obovoid, 6–8(–11) mm. long; 4–6(–7) mm. wide, glabrous.. Seeds ± ellipsoid to ovoid, very slightly reniform, 4–7(–8) mm. long, 3–6 mm. wide, 3–5 mm. thick; basal part of ventral ridge wider, sometimes grooved at sides, rest narrower and more elevated; dorsal ridges less obvious or obscure; 4–5 transverse radial ridges evident or obscure, sometimes sparsely finely echinate to tuberculate; the pattern is variable.

Fringing forest; clearings in evergreen forest; bushland; thickets; grassland with or without scattered trees; abandoned cultivations; fallows; secondary forest; sandy river-banks; granitic rocks; rain-forest; savannah; at elevations to 2,650 metres.

The leaves are cooked and used as a vegetable and in soups. They taste sour. The stems are cut to release drinking water. The fruit are acid and eaten and used in soups. The roots are boiled and eaten. They are also sliced and dried and stored. They can be stored for 1-2 months.

Can be grown by seedlings. Seeds needs soaking.