Cissus - WikiHQ

thumb|Cissus verticillata

thumb|A [[Cissus discolor cultivar]]

Cissus is a genus of 350 species of lianas (woody vines) in the grape family (Vitaceae). Species are native to the tropical and subtropical Americas, sub-Saharan Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, tropical Asia, Papuasia, and Australia.

Uses

Medicinal

Cissus quadrangularis has been evaluated for potential medical uses. As a source of carotenoids, triterpenoids and ascorbic acid, the extracts may have potential for medical effects, including "gastroprotective activity" and benefits in terms of "lipid metabolism and oxidative stress". Cissus quinquangularis was used by the Maasai people of Kenya to relieve some of the symptoms of malaria.

Ornamental

Cissus alata and Cissus incisa are cultivated as garden plants in some areas of the world. Succulent members of the genus such as Cissus quadrangularis are also found in the nursery trade but tend to be frost tender and are thus not widely cultivated. Cissus alata is also cultivated as a houseplant, and C. discolor is often seen in greenhouses.

Ecology

Cissus species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Hypercompe eridanus and Hypercompe icasia. They are also consumed by chimpanzees.

Taxonomy

The generic name is derived from the Greek word (kissos), meaning "ivy". In the 1980s the genus was split according to some details of the flower. The large caudiciform species were moved to the new genus Cyphostemma. In 2023 several Australasian and South American species were placed in the new genus Apocissus.

The genus name was established by Carl Linnaeus who used species epithets that are adjectives with feminine grammatical gender in Latin (e.g., C. trifoliata L.). This matches the pattern that names of trees ending in -us in Latin have feminine gender, although other plant names ending in -us are usually masculine.

Species

Plants of the World Online currently includes:

Cissus vinosa Jackes
Cissus viridescens Ridl.
Cissus vitiginea L.
Cissus voanonala (Baker) Suess.
Cissus wallacei Verdc.
Cissus wellmanii Gilg & M.Brandt
Cissus welwitschii (Baker) Planch.
Cissus wenshanensis C.L.Li
Cissus woodrowii (Stapf ex Cooke) Santapau
Cissus wrightiana Planch.
Cissus xavierensis
Cissus xerophila Lombardi
Cissus youngii Exell & Mendonça
Cissus zombitsy Desc.

Formerly placed here

Ampelopsis glandulosa var. brevipedunculata (Maxim.) Momiy (as C. brevipedunculata Maxim.)
Ampelopsis orientalis (Lam.) Planch. (as C. orientalis Lam.)
Ampelopsis vitifolia Planch. (as C. vitifolia Boiss.)
Apocissus acrantha (as C. acrantha )
Apocissus antarctica (as C. antarctica )
Apocissus behrmannii (as C. behrmannii )
Apocissus hypoglauca (as C. hypoglauca )
Apocissus oblonga (as C. oblonga )
Apocissus sterculiifolia (as C. sterculiifolia )
Apocissus trianae (as C. trianae )
Cayratia geniculata (Blume) Gagnep. (as C. geniculata Blume)
Cayratia saponaria (as C. saponaria (Seem. ex Benth.) Planch. or C. bicolor Domin)
Cayratia trifolia (L.) Domin (as C. trifolia (L.) K.Schum.)
Clematicissus opaca (as C. opaca )
Cyphostemma bainesii (Hook.f.) Desc. (as C. bainesii (Hook.f.) Gilg & M.Brandt)
Cyphostemma cirrhosum (Thunb.) Desc. (as C. cirrhosa (Thunb.) Willd.)
Cyphostemma currorii (Hook.f.) Desc. (as C. currorii Hook.f. or C. crameriana Schinz)
Cyphostemma juttae (Dinter & Gilg) Desc. (as C. juttae Dinter & Gilg)
Rhoicissus tomentosa (Lam.) Wild & R.B.Drumm. (as C. capensis Willd. or C. tomentosa Lam.)
Strychnos umbellata (Lour.) Merr. (as C. umbellata Lour.)
Tetrastigma leucostaphylum (Dennst.) Alston ex Mabb. (as C. lanceolaria Roxb. or C. leucostaphyla Dennst.)
Tetrastigma serrulatum (Roxb.) Planch. (as C. serrulata Roxb.)