Cissus Quadrangularis

Cissus quadrangularis is a fleshy, climbing vine in the grape family that looks a bit like a string of green, four-sided sausages. It is also called veldt grape, devil’s backbone, adamant creeper and hadjod, and it has been used in traditional medicine in India and Africa for a very long time.

Scientific Classification & Quick Facts

Common name	Veldt grape
Scientific name	Cissus quadrangularis
Kingdom	Plantae
Phylum	Tracheophyta
Class	Magnoliopsida
Order	Vitales
Family	Vitaceae
Genus	Cissus
Type	Perennial plant in the grape family
Habitat	Hot, dry regions
Native range	India or Sri Lanka, also Arabia and Africa
Colours	Yellowish, whitish or green flowers; red ripe berries
Height	Up to 1.5 m
Special feature	Square-sided stems; used in traditional medicine

What Does It Look Like?

The most unusual thing about this plant is its stem. Instead of being round, each stem is square in cross-section, with four flat sides and a narrow, leathery ridge running along each corner. That shape gives the plant its scientific name: quadrangularis means “four-angled.”

The stem is made of jointed segments, each roughly 8 to 10 cm (3 to 4 inches) long and about 1 to 1.5 cm wide, pinched in where one segment meets the next. These joints are called nodes. A plant often grows to about 1.5 meters (5 feet), and it can scramble much farther when it has trees or fences to climb.

Small, toothed leaves, often heart-shaped or three-lobed, grow at the nodes, but they usually fall off early, leaving the green stems to do most of the work of making food. Opposite each leaf is a curly tendril that wraps around branches and helps the vine climb, just like the tendrils of a grapevine.

The flowers are tiny and greenish-yellow or cream, growing in small clusters. After flowering, the plant produces round berries, a little like miniature grapes, that turn red when ripe.

Where Does It Come From?

Veldt grape is native to the warm, dry parts of the Old World. It grows wild across much of tropical Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, India, Sri Lanka and parts of Southeast Asia. In India it is common on the dry Deccan Plateau and in the south of the country.

Because the stems store water, the plant is a kind of succulent. It can survive long dry seasons by living off the water saved in its thick stems. People have also carried it to other warm places, and it is grown in gardens in the southern United States, Brazil and elsewhere.

Traditional Uses

For centuries, Cissus quadrangularis has been part of Ayurveda and Siddha, the traditional medicine systems of India. Its Sanskrit name, asthisamharaka, roughly means “the one that prevents the destruction of bones,” and the Hindi name hadjod means “bone joiner.” These names show how it was traditionally used: as a remedy for broken bones, sprains and sore joints. The Garo people of Bangladesh and communities in parts of Africa have also used it in similar ways.

Today the plant is sold as a dietary supplement, but scientists have only done a small amount of research on it, and the results are not settled. It should never replace proper medical care for an injury. Anyone thinking of taking it should ask a doctor first, and children should not take it at all unless a doctor says so.

Raw stems can also irritate the mouth and skin, so it is best to wear gloves when taking cuttings and to keep the plant away from pets that like to chew leaves.

Growing Cissus Quadrangularis

This is an easy and fun plant to grow, especially in a sunny window or a warm greenhouse. In very warm climates without frost it can grow outdoors all year.

Light and Soil

Give it bright light with some direct sun, or dappled sun outdoors. It likes a loose, well-drained soil, such as a cactus or succulent mix. It is not fussy about pH and grows well in soil that is slightly acidic to slightly alkaline.

Watering and Humidity

Water when the top of the soil has dried out, then let the extra water drain away. Never leave the roots sitting in a puddle, because soggy soil can make the stems rot. Water less often in winter, when the plant grows slowly. Like most succulents, it does fine in ordinary household humidity.

Temperature

Veldt grape loves warmth and cannot survive frost. Keep it above about 10 degrees C (50 degrees F). In cooler climates, grow it in a pot and bring it indoors well before the first cold nights of autumn.

Making New Plants

The easiest way to grow more is from stem cuttings. Cut a piece with one or two segments, let the cut end dry in the shade for a day or two so it seals over, then press it into damp, gritty soil. Roots usually form within a few weeks. Because it is a climber, give it a stake, trellis or string to grow up. In India, farms that grow the plant train the long stems along wires held up by bamboo poles.

Pests

The plant has few problems, but keep an eye out for mealybugs, which look like small white fluffy dots, and spider mites, which leave fine webbing and speckled stems. Wiping them off or rinsing the plant usually takes care of a small outbreak.

Veldt grape FAQs

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