General Info – summary

This slow growing, succulent & pachycaul Tree lacks tentacles & may reach 5m high – usually 2m. Smooth bark is shiny, and branches are short and stubby. The simple, blue-green Leaves become trifoliate and very large. Margins run down petiolules like wings. The bisexual, regular, 4-merous and greenish cream Flowers develop in cymes. The ovary is superior. Ripe Fruit is a black shrunken grape-like berry.

Description

Cyphostemma juttae

Previous Names: Cissus juttae.

SA Tree No. 456.1.

Common names: (Afr) Botterboom, Bloukobas, Jutta’s Botterboom. (Eng) Blue Cobas, Elephant’s Foot, Namibian Grape, Tree grape, Wild grape.

Family Vitaceae (Grape Vine Family) with has about 14 genera and in excess of 900 species worldwide. The plants are herbaceous or woody and often climbing with tendrils. Leaves are alternate and leaf nodes are swollen. The actinomorphic (regular; symmetric) Flowers are usually bisexual and in cymes – opposite the leaves. The Corolla has 4-6 petals. Opposite the petals are 4-6 Stamens. The free Filaments are attached to the centre of the Anthers and each anther has 2 pollen sacs which dehisce lengthwise. The superior Ovary has 2 ovules in each of its 2 locules and extends via a short style. The Fruit is a berry containing up to 4 seeds. Examples on this website include 2 species of the genus Cyphostemma.

Name derivation: Cyphostemma – curved or humped crown. juttae: named after Jutta Dinter, the wife of Moritz Kurt Dinter. He was German botanist and explorer in Namibia (South West Africa). He landed at Swakopmund in June of 1897 and was appointed botanist of the then South West Africa. There are 34 species of the genus Cyphostemma in southern Africa.

Conservation Status: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: L C. (Least Concern). However, it was noted that the population should be monitored. Date 2004/04/30.

Tree

The Tree is a pachycaul (having a disproportionately thickset, swollen trunk for its height (photo 204). This feature also occurs in the baobab Adansonia digitata and Adenia fruticosa). Cyphostemma juttae is a dwarf succulent and a slow growing tree. It may reach 5m or more but is usually less than 2m high (photo 204). The trunk is relatively wide – up to 1m and almost round and looks obese – especially in winter when leaves have fallen (photo 204). Branches are short, smooth and stubby (photo 204). The shiny light green Bark becomes noticeable when the creamy coloured, papery outer layer peels off in flakes (photo 731 under Leaves). Unlike many other plants in this family, Cyphostemma juttae has no tentacles and is not a climber.

: 705 2014.12.23 Walter Sisulu NBG. Photo: David Becking.

: 204 2014.08.26 Walter Sisulu NBG. Photo: David Becking.

Leaves

This tree is deciduous (photo 204 under Tree) but a lack of water may also cause leaf loss at any time. The alternate, blue-green, thickened, shiny and fleshy Leaves are often simple and deeply lobed when young but become very large and trifoliate (compound leaf with 3 leaflets) when mature (photo 705). Here the central Leaflet is the largest and is broadly elliptic to ovate and up to 35 x 15cm. Very young leaves are red (photo 412 – under Flowers). Along the under surface of the leaves the Midrib has small spines (photo 412 – under Flowers). The Apex is tapering to rounded or sharply pointed. The Base of the terminal leaflet is symmetric but asymmetric in the lateral leaflets. The Margins are coarsely toothed (photo 705 & 412 – under Flowers). Leaflet margins run down into the Petiolules (stalks of leaflets), which become conspicuously winged in the process (photo 705). The Petiole (leaf stalk) is short. The narrow lanceolate Stipules (basal appendages of the petiole) are initially conspicuous but fall early.

: 731 2014.11.18 Walter Sisulu NBG. Photo: David Becking.

: 705 2014.12.23 Walter Sisulu NBG. Photo: David Becking.

: 260 2014.02.04 Walter Sisulu NBG. Photo: David Becking.

Flowers

The small, bisexual and greenish cream Flowers are actinomorphic (Regular, symmetrical. Flowers are vertically divisible into similar halves by more than 1 plane passing through the axis). The flowers, which initially extend above the trunk, develop in cymes (broad: almost flat-topped cluster of flowers with the central ones opening first – photo 412). The 4-merous flowers develop opposite the leaves. The cylindrical Buds are constricted near the central area (photo 257) and have a rounded apex. The Corolla has 4 yellowish Petals, which are initially hooded at the apex but are soon shed. There is a Disc (a more or less fleshy or elevated development of the receptacle) present. It contains 4 fleshy glands. There are 4 opposite Stamens with straight Filaments. The Anthers are attached by their centre and dehisce longitudinally. Two incompletely separated Locules, each with 2 Ovules are contained within the single superior Ovary. Protruding beyond the rest of the flower is simple slender Style, which tapers to a point (photo 257). In this photo, the bending down of the post fertilization flowers is visible. The broad, red Peduncle (stalk of a cluster of flowers) is armed with small prickles that end in a small bulb-like structure (photo 257). Flowering may depend on the rain (Nov-Feb). As expected, those planted in the USA (northern hemisphere) flower in June-July.

: 412 2014.08.28 Walter Sisulu NBG. Photo: David Becking.

: 257 2014.02.04 Walter Sisulu NBG. Photo: David Becking.

Fruit

The impressive, ovoid to almost spherical Fruit is a grape-like Berry (pulpy, indehiscent fruit like a grape or tomato) and is up to about 12 x 7mm. After pollination, the developing fruit hangs down. At this stage, the remains of the styles are clearly visible (photo 257 under Flowers). Fruit is initially green (photo 259) but turns light red (photo 261). Finally, the purplish-black fruit shrinks when mature and become raisin-like (photos 924 & 926). Usually only a single Seed develops in each berry. (Dec-Jan+).

: 259 2014.02.04 Walter Sisulu NBG. Photo: David Becking.

: 261 2014.02.04 Walter Sisulu NBG. Photo: David Becking.

: 926 2014.03.25 Walter Sisulu NBG. Photo: David Becking.

: 924 2014.03.25 Walter Sisulu NBG. Photo: David Becking.

Distribution & Ecology

The wide Trunk enables moisture storing and allows the trees to survive in desert (low summer rainfall) regions of central and northern Namibia as well as northwards. This is a slow growing plant. Although the leaves are large, they are also thick and this helps in water retention as does the light shiny bark, which reflects the sun. Three other species of Cyphostemma occur north of Walvis Bay.

Ethnobotany

The fruits may, or may not, be edible. They contain Oxalic acid. In man, a high concentration can be harmful if inhaled). If ingested the grapelike fruit constricts the throat and causes damage to tissues of the mucous membranes and respiratory tract resulting in burning sensation, wheezing, coughing and laryngitis). This oxalic acid is also present in the leaves and inhibits grazing. It is thus advisable not to eat the fruit. Propagation can be from cuttings or seeds, but these take a long time to germinate. Growing plants should not be over-watered, and not in winter. Planting should be in well-drained soil, full sun and away from very cold conditions. These plants become most impressive in a container.