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Cyphostemma mappia

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Wild plant by S. Molteno.


Young plant by S. Molteno.


Old plant by S. Molteno.


Flowers and fruits by S. Molteno.


Adult leaves by S. Molteno.

Author: Pierre Galet, 1967
Family:  VITACEAE
Origin:  Mauritius
Soil:  Grit - Mix
Water:  Minimum - Medium
Sun:  Maximum
Thickness:  70 Centimetres
Height:  2-10 Metres
Flower:  Greenish Yellow - Pink - Purple
Propagate:  Seeds
Names:  Mapou Tree, Bois Mapou, Mauritian Baobab
Synonyms:  Cissus mappia, Jean Baptiste Antoine Pierre de Monnet de Lamarck, 1792.
Vitis mappia
, John Gilbert Baker, 1877.
Malacoxylum pinnatum, Jacq.

This member of the Vitaceae family was given this name by Pierre Galet in 1967. It is found on Mauritius, growing in a well drained soil with some water and lots of sun. The caudex can grow to 70 centimetres in diameter, the entire plant to two to ten centimetres in height, depending on the environment. The flowers are greenish yellow, pink or purple and the fruits are small, red, velvety grapes.

The genera name from the Greek kyphos; 'tumor' or ,'hump' and stemma; 'garland' or 'crown'. The species name after one of the islands it once was found on: Mapou.


Old caudex by S. Molteno.


Old drawing of an old plant.


The juvenile leaves by S. Molteno.