Cissus

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Cissus
Starr 071024-9714 Cissus nodosa.jpg
Cissus nodosa
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Vitales
Family: Vitaceae
Tribe: Cisseae
Genus: Cissus
L. [1]
Species [2]

279, see text

Cissus verticillata Cissus verticillata.jpg
Cissus verticillata
A Cissus discolor cultivar Cissus javana, jardin botanico de Tallinn, Estonia, 2012-08-13, DD 01.JPG
A Cissus discolor cultivar

Cissus is a genus of 279 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. [2]

Contents

Description

Extrafloral nectaries on the stipule have been reported for C. microcarpa, C. psudosicyoids, and C. rhombifolia. [3]

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" [4] and benefits in terms of "lipid metabolism and oxidative stress". [5] Cissus quinquangularis was used by the Maasai people of Kenya to relieve some of the symptoms of malaria. [6]

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.

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. [7]

Taxonomy

The generic name is derived from the Greek word κισσος (kissos), meaning "ivy". [8] 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 . [9]

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. [10]

Species

Plants of the World Online currently includes: [2]

Formerly placed here

References

  1. "Cissus L." Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 3 April 2006. Archived from the original on 6 October 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 "Cissus L." Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  3. Weber, Marjorie G.; Keeler, Kathleen H. (2012-10-18). "The phylogenetic distribution of extrafloral nectaries in plants". Annals of Botany. 111 (6): 1251–1261. doi:10.1093/aob/mcs225. eISSN   1095-8290. PMC   3662505 .
  4. Jainu, M; Mohan, K; Devi, C (2006). "Protective effect of Cissus quadrangularis on neutrophil mediated tissue injury induced by aspirin in rats". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 104 (3): 302–5. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2005.08.076. PMID   16338111.
  5. Oben, Julius E; Enyegue, Damaris; Fomekong, Gilles I; Soukontoua, Yves B; Agbor, Gabriel A (2007). "The effect of Cissus quadrangularis (CQR-300) and a Cissus formulation (CORE) on obesity and obesity-induced oxidative stress". Lipids in Health and Disease. 6: 4. doi: 10.1186/1476-511X-6-4 . PMC   1800848 . PMID   17274828.
  6. Bussmann, Rainer W; Gilbreath, Genevieve G; Solio, John; Lutura, Manja; Lutuluo, Rumpac; Kunguru, Kimaren; Wood, Nick; Mathenge, Simon G (2006). "Plant use of the Maasai of Sekenani Valley, Maasai Mara, Kenya". Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 2: 22. doi: 10.1186/1746-4269-2-22 . PMC   1475560 . PMID   16674830.
  7. Yumoto; Marushashi; Yamagiwa; Mwanza (1995). "Seed-dispersal by elephants in a tropical rain forest in Kahuzi-Biega National Park". Biotropica. 27 (4): 526–530. doi:10.2307/2388968. JSTOR   2388968.
  8. Eggli, Urs (2002). Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants. Vol. 5: Dicotyledons. Springer. p. 452. ISBN   978-3-540-41966-2.
  9. Jackes, Betsy R., Trias-Blasi, Anna (2023). "Apocissus Jackes & Trias-Blasi, a new genus in the Vitaceae". Austrobaileya: A Journal of Plant Systematics. 13. Queensland Herbarium, Dept. of Primary Industries: 94–104. doi:10.5962/p.411120.
  10. Turland, N. (2013), The Code Decoded: A user's guide to the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants, vol. Regnum Vegetabile Volume 155, Koeltz Scientific Books, ISBN   978-3-87429-433-1 page 96
  11. 1 2 "Species Records of Cissus". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. Archived from the original on 20 January 2009. Retrieved 7 July 2010.
  12. "Cissus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 7 July 2010.