Volume 14 > Part 4 > Year 2020 > Page 627 > Vitaceae > Cissus

18. Cissus quadrangularis L.wfo-0000606737

Syst. Nat., ed. 12, 2: 124. 1767; Mant. Pl. 1: 39. 1767 (as C. quadrangulum); Lam., Encycl. 1: 30. 1783; Willd., Sp. Pl., ed. 4 1: 657. 1798; DC, Prodr. 1: 628. 1824; Roxb., Fl. Ind. 1: 423. 1820; Planch. in A.DC. & C.DC., Monogr. Phan. 5(2): 509. 1887; Gagnep., Notul. Syst. 1(11): 354. 1911; Gamble, Fl. Madras 2: 233. 1918; Craib, Fl. Siam. 1: 308. 1926; Gagnep. in Humbert, Suppl. Fl. Indo-Chine 1: 890. 1950; Suessenguth, Nat. Pflanzenfam. 20d: 262, t. 78. 1953; Backer & Bakh.f., Fl. Java (Spermatoph.) 2: 90. 1965 (as C. quadrangula); Mabb. in Dassan., Revis. Handb. Fl. Ceylon 9: 476. 1995; Lombardi, Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 80: 152. 2000; B.V.Shetty & P.Singh, Fl. Ind. 5: 288. 2000; W.J.Kress et al., Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 45: 393. 2003; J.Wen, L.M.Lu & Boggan, Philipp. J. Sci. 142: 232. 2013.— Vitis quadrangularis (L.) Wall. ex Wight, Cat. Ind. Pl. 26. 1833; Wight & Arn., Prodr. Fl. Ind. Orient. 1: 125. 1834; Miq., Ann. Mus. Bot. Lugduno-Batavi 1: 86. 1863; Brandis, Forest Fl. N.W. India 100. 1874; M.A.Lawson in Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 1: 645. 1875.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Synonyms & Citations :

Description : Deciduous climber. Stem green, pendulous, quadrangular (0.5–1 cm per side), 1–1.5 cm diam., angulose, each face concave, angles winged, constricted at nodes, glabrous, branched, succulent; tendrils unequally bifurcate, 10–15 cm long, 1.2 mm diam., leaf-opposed, glabrous, bearing a small stipule, becoming woody; stipules ovate, 3–4 by 2–3 mm, apex mostly rounded, glabrous, deciduous. Leaves simple, falling early; petiole to 2 cm long, 1 mm diam., quadrangular, glabrous; leaf blade cordate to ovate, 4–7 by 2.5–7 cm, base thick coriaceous, auriculate to truncate, margin crenulate with minute teeth (0.1–0.2 mm long), apex obtuse to cuspidate (small tip 0.2 mm long), both sides glabrous, with 3 main basal veins protruding, 3 pairs of secondary veins. Inflorescence ramified, leaf-opposed, arising at nodes of previous season’s growth, umbellate corymbs, to 3 by 5 cm, glabrous; primary peduncle to 2 cm long, secondary peduncle to 1 cm long, tertiary peduncle to 0.7 cm long, glabrous; pedicel to 3–4 mm long, glabrous. Buds ovoid to oblong, 3 by 2 mm, apex rounded. Calyx reddish, cupuliform, 0.5–2 mm, sinuate, lobes inconspicuous, glabrous. Petals ovate, 2–3 by 1–1.5 mm, apex cucullate, glabrous. Filaments 0.7–1.3 mm long, 0.15 mm diam.;anthers ovate-elliptic, medifixed, to 0.8 by 0.6 mm; pollen abundant, yellowish. Disc with 4 slightly marked lobes, 0.3–0.7 by 1.5 mm, each lobe 0.3 by 1 mm, apex truncate, slightly recurved, glabrous; style cylindrical, 0.8–1.2 by 0.3–0.5 mm; stigma inconspicuous. Fruit globose, 0.5–1 by 0.5–1 cm, base attenuate. Seed 1, 5 by 4 mm, globose, grooved along perimeter on upper part of seed, rather smooth.

Thailand : NORTHERN: Nakhon Sawan (Takhli); SOUTH-WESTERN: Prachuap Khiri Khan (Kan Kradai, Sam Roi Yot); CENTRAL: Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok); SOUTH-EASTERN: Chon Buri (Si Racha).

Distribution : India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Indonesia, Java, the Philippines, Africa, America.

Ecology : In dry areas, especially along the coast near sea level. Flowering: March–November.

Vernacular : Khan kho (ขั่นข้อ)(Ratchaburi); phet sang khat (เพชรสังฆาต), san cha khuat (สันชะควด)(Bangkok); sam roi to (สามร้อยต่อ)(Prachuap Khiri Khan).

Uses: The green stems are edible if cooked. The root is used for curing bone fractures. Extract used to cure scurvy, irregular menstruation, and ear and nose complaints (Mabberley, 1995). Studies have been carried out showing its antibacterial and antioxidant properties (Chidambara Murthy et al., 2003). Another study highlights the positive results when used to combat peptic ulcers (Jainu & Devi, 2004). Positive results have been obtained when extracts were tested by Oben et al. (2007), supporting clinical data for weight loss and improving cardiovascular health.

Notes: This species has been introduced to Thailand, Java and Philippines and has now naturalised (Mabberley, 1995).