''Cyphostemma ternatum'' is a
perennial climbing
herb
In general use, herbs are a widely distributed and widespread group of plants, excluding vegetables and other plants consumed for macronutrients, with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medicinal ...
that grows up to 2m. It is edible and distributed throughout
Northeast Africa to
South Arabia
South Arabia () is a historical region that consists of the southern region of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia, mainly centered in what is now the Republic of Yemen, yet it has also historically included Najran, Jizan, Al-Bahah, and 'Asi ...
. ''ternatum'' in Latin means "arranged in threes" and alludes to the arrangement of the leaves.
Description
''Cyphostemma ternatum'' is a succulent climbing vine up to 2m tall. Leaves alternate, simple and trifoliolate up to 25 cm long x 30 cm across. Leaves are serrated with a petiole up to 5 cm long. Flowers are pale greenish yellow, 2.5-3mm long; arranged opposite the leaves in
umbellate
cymes
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Morphologically, it is the modified part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed on ...
. Fruit is an ovoid or globose berry, 13 x 11mm, fleshy and ripens bright red.
Habitat
''Cyphostemma ternatum'' grows at near sea level and during the monsoon season. It can be found in bushland, grasslands
riparian forests.
Uses
''Cyphostemma ternatum'' is edible and the leaves were traditionally boiled into a green mush in
Southern Arabia. It has a peppery and acrid taste. The fruit of the ''C. ternatum'' is also edible once they have ripened, but only when the pip has been removed, as the pip is quite hot. The root is edible and can be eaten raw, but is apparently improved by cooking.
In traditional herbal medicine, this plant was used to treat cases of
footrot in
Arabia. A poultice of juice of the cooked leaves with salt was applied to the affected part.
References
{{Taxonbar, from1=Q15568935
Flora of Africa
ternatum