Region: southeastern Africa, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, S. Africa.
Habitat: closed or fringing forest, covering trees; montane rain-forest; elevations from 600 to 1800 metres.
Use: ornamental, for covering fences and trellises; fruit, raw or cooked, made into a jelly; young leaves and shoots, cooked.
BotanyEvergreen climbing shrub, supporting themselves by means of coiled tendrils; occasionally the plant adopts a more tree-like habit, growing 3 to 7 metres tall.
Root: globose root tubers; 15 to 20 cm in diameter.
Stem: woody; 25 metres or more long; 25 cm in diameter at the base; aerial roots hanging vertically from a low height.
Fruit: edible; purplish-black; reddish pulp; 2 cm in diameter.