Cissus

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Genus of grapevines

title: "Cissus" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["cissus", "vines", "medicinal-plants", "vitaceae-genera", "botanical-taxa-named-by-carl-linnaeus"] description: "Genus of grapevines" topic_path: "general/cissus" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cissus" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Genus of grapevines ::

|image = Starr 071024-9714 Cissus nodosa.jpg |image_caption = Cissus nodosa |taxon = Cissus |authority = L. |subdivision_ranks = Species |subdivision = 279, see text |subdivision_ref = ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/Cissus_verticillata.jpg" caption="''Cissus verticillata''"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/37/Cissus_javana,_jardín_botánico_de_Tallinn,_Estonia,_2012-08-13,_DD_01.JPG" caption="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.

Description

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

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 κισσος (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:

Formerly placed here

Image gallery

File:Cissus woodrowii (Woodrow's Grape Tree) in Keesaraguda, AP W IMG 9153.jpg|Cissus woodrowii in Keesara, Rangareddy district, Andhra Pradesh, India File:Cissus woodrowii (Woodrow's Grape Tree) in Keesaraguda, AP W IMG 9152.jpg|Cissus woodrowii in Keesara, India File:Cissus woodrowii (Woodrow's Grape Tree) in Keesaraguda, AP W IMG 9150.jpg|Cissus woodrowii in Keesara File:Cissus repanda W IMG_1873.jpg|Cissus repanda in Keesara Image:Cissus hypoglauca Durras.jpg|Cissus hypoglauca growing over a creek at Murramarang National Park, Australia

References

References

  1. (3 April 2006). "''Cissus'' L.". United States Department of Agriculture.
  2. "''Cissus'' L.". [[Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew]].
  3. (2012-10-18). "The phylogenetic distribution of extrafloral nectaries in plants". Annals of Botany.
  4. (2006). "Protective effect of Cissus quadrangularis on neutrophil mediated tissue injury induced by aspirin in rats". Journal of Ethnopharmacology.
  5. (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. (2006). "Plant use of the Maasai of Sekenani Valley, Maasai Mara, Kenya". Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine.
  7. (1995). "Seed-dispersal by elephants in a tropical rain forest in Kahuzi-Biega National Park". Biotropica.
  8. Eggli, Urs. (2002). "Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants". Springer.
  9. (2023). "''Apocissus'' Jackes & Trias-Blasi, a new genus in the Vitaceae". Queensland Herbarium, Dept. of Primary Industries.
  10. Turland, N.. (2013). "The Code Decoded: A user's guide to the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants". Koeltz Scientific Books.
  11. "Species Records of ''Cissus''". United States Department of Agriculture.
  12. {{ITIS

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