Cayratia mollissima (Planch.) Gagnep., Notul. Syst. (Paris) 1: 345 1911. (Syn: Columella mollissima (Wall.) Merrill; Vitis mollissima Wall.);
.
peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar [Burma], India (Arunachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala), Philippines (Luzon, Panay, Mindanao) as per Catalogue of life;
.
¿
kay-ray-SHE-yuh ? — Latin: Cayratia, from the Annamese vernacular name, cay-rat, a vine … Flora Fauna Web
maw-LISS-ih-muh — softest … Dave’s Botanary
.
commonly known as: curry grapeAssamese: মেৰমেৰী লতা mermeree lataKannada: ಕಾಡು ದ್ರಾಕ್ಷಿ kaadu drakshi, ಕಾನಕಲ್ಲಟೆ kaanakallateTulu: ಕಾನಕಲ್ಲಟೆ kaanakallate
.

Weak climbers; stem scabrous. Leaflets 3, 8-12 x 4-7 cm, ovate, acuminate at apex, acute at base, distantly spineus-serrate; nerves 4 or 5 pairs, glabrous; petiole 4 cm long. Peduncle 1.5 cm long, extra-axillary, trichotomous cymes 2 x 3 cm. Flowers greenish-yellow; calyx a membranous cup, 2 mm across, entire; petals 2 x 1 mm, oblong. Berry 6 mm across, obovoid, glabrous; seeds pitted on sides

Flowering and fruiting: October-December
Evergreen, semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests
Indo-Malesia
(Attributions- Dr. N Sasidharan (Dr. B P Pal Fellow), Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi from India Biodiversity Portal)
.

/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/DSC_0820-3.JPG/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/DSC_0813-8-7.JPG/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/DSC_0821-8.JPG/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/DSC_0814-5-0.JPG/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/DSC_0812-1.JPG/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/DSC_0822-5.JPG/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/DSC_0815-7-2.JPG/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/DSC_0818-7.JPG/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/DSC_0819-3.JPG
ANFEB13 Vitaceae climber for identification : 6 posts by 3 authors. Attachments(9)

Famiy: Vitaceae
Date: 26th December 2014
Place: Agumbe, Karnataka
Habit: Climber
Please also see … earlier post of the same: efi thread


You might have noticed my feedback in … post (regarding the id of this species). It was based on FBI and more than 100 years have been passed by!

FBI doesn’t indicate that Vitis (Cayratia) mollissima Wall. can be found in India. But it is found in the South, description can be found at –
One FoC species can be compared in this regard –
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=250076929
All said, I am not telling/suggesting that your plant can be Cayratia mollissima, because here also I find some difficulties. I only request you to check probability.

I would agree with your suggestion of Cayratia mollissima because of the following features that can be seen in the photos clicked by … and me-
1) Leaflets obovate, acuminate
2) Lateral leaflets with a oblique base (can be seen clearly in this: https://www.flickr.com/photos/dinesh_valke/16353211305)

What I am finding a little confusing is the ‘trichotomous cyme’ that C. mollissima is supposed to have. Do the photos I have clicked reflect this structure? Could you also tell me if there is anything you see that does not point in favour of C. mollissima?

Here are some helpful links that I referred to-
1) http://florakarnataka.ces.iisc.ernet.in/Cayratiamollissima/78.JPG
2) http://florakarnataka.ces.iisc.ernet.in/Cayratiamollissima/379.JPG
3) http://florakarnataka.ces.iisc.ernet.in//Cayratiamollissima/178.jpg
4) http://florakarnataka.ces.iisc.ernet.in//Cayratiamollissima/179.jpg


My concerns are – 1) I do not know sizes of petiole, leaves, flowers or fruits 2) fruit doesn’t look like globose 3) petiole in your pictures seemed to be much longer, but the links you have provided seem to satisfy this point 4) I did’t not know what other species from the region can be found.

I do not give much importance on lamina shape or base, unless we examine a number of specimens from a population. Perhaps one of your links satisfies “trichotomous cyme” with your picture no. DSC_0819.


This too sir. Will certainly make sure to shoot with a scale in the frame next time.
Thank you for your help. I hope to come across this sp. again some time so that we can revisit this post and all of your suggestions. Can we leave this as Cayratia sp. then?

Only scale/ruler won’t suffice …, we need to check the fully mature fruit and seed inside to come to any conclusion. I understand this is not feasible all the time. Who knows what the young fruits of mollissima look like! And perhaps one fruit, at middle left, in the
http://florakarnataka.ces.iisc.ernet.in/Cayratiamollissima/379.JPG looks somewhat like yours!
Yes, you may tag this species as Cayratia species, close to C. mollissima, I think.


True sir.
The last option is the try and grow the plant at home itself to document each and every stage. This is some thing I am doing with a Vitaceae member I found in Bangalore. Let us hope it helps.
In the meanwhile, thank you for this very helpful thread sir.

Thank you very very much …
I am looking forward to the day when you will lead this group and detect wrong records in our species pages, help rectifying those. If I still remain active then I won’t be sorry if you prove me wrong in any or all of the ID I have suggested so far, in all threads, yours and in others.
I do really mean it.


That’s an incredible compliment sir. 🙂 I hope to live up to that!


You will laugh at me if you find my toddling days in this group, …


/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/yLhd5lEPl4IEMCdpB5H2jNaHJbzDoHdtvq7xyniVZJW4QIUuBDReE_NL4MnVm2skAt5ih6uIPSez7XrQxcwKZBLcWe16fDueZkCMJ8vkGYkJJnw-w5000-h5000.jpg/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/3UqexiSDcDVAMQ_E08Y_Jjb_VH75iwNN6HT2MPhl8RGoV-6HMADz4mVDxTl2EzbovkAKv_Rx9IQZTDtzeiGQQHQsTx7pg7qd19CrfQjIHPSdtfU-w5000-h5000.jpg/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/3p0B1hcDR6aQliVRf1lwnG8jKu4m-LQGgMM9tly95x4o9KMQNsNGPysoRaLJXWu1gGEjWyjggsd4GoovONXVqeEWwOley5piFZh8xOZuVZKIt80-w5000-h5000.jpg/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/fIh0i4mHGzzgodww7c36Zd6IEygOyHL_3ElcsSsP1wpOBQG3RBJmduhZOB2i6YKGT_Y5YDWcuXNg93faMOxwCgKFaMgDCSi73WnhSDoWurwdR7U-w5000-h5000.jpg/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/jhtthxdI6ZzgG8KTSsDMe_Wb2Bg0ZgrbpYm0qOjENJvJC-6AmHappwik8CkbaGjtvXPTyalMrGborJ4UTzSyrcYXeF2yzkfSTTERdmhf4ATwT3w-w5000-h5000.jpg/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/QTzSFMyeGKHOOZ6_VZlwXyHSz2g93NUwSys2t_5pM-8IgkI28F-403Jt93wW02ET6ylUIhO4sXyodCbD5Oao8Bi7KVbjkp9xsysy-8AZPRJCIqw-w5000-h5000.jpg/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/5UjYdEQ4lVRJc_CmPIeWhHWxf6rg7u_XZFWcYTfIMw9ddL9g4bsTGfKAr70wITEaUy-7YRrFyfuPhs0lAF7RjwmZ90C22pSJgKJAwsTf-6fv2dc-w5000-h5000.jpg

Agumbe :: Cissus repanda FOR VALIDATION / ID :: DVJAN65 : 11 posts by 4 authors. 7 images.
Agumbe Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka
Date: 26 DEC 2014 Altitude: about 700 m asl
Cissus ¿ repanda / else ? (family: Vitaceae)


I am mistaking here asking for validation of this plant to be Cissus repanda which has simple leaves.
This must be some other Cissus … please help with ID.


Cissus – species in eFIoraofindia (with details/ keys from published papers/ regional floras/ FRLHT/ FOI/ efloras/ books etc., where ever available)


I am not satisfied at what I am going to suggest, but I have no alternative, you may check probability of Vitis neilgherrensis Wight, which is synonymous with Vitis himalayana Brand., in FBI, but does carry some difference.


Thank you very much …
Being not so familiar with Cissus / Vitis of south India, my attempts to ID would be weaker than guesses.
Vitis neilgherrensis does look like a good possibility.
… thoughts were Cissus ¿ carnosa / trifoliata ?
I am yet to check on them.


Vitis carnosa of FBI falls under the sector which have stems and leaves usually fleshy. Cissus carnosa of Flora Indica has flattened stem, leaflets oval glossy serrate….. etc. Please check FBI and FI details. Relevant literature attached herewith.
If the illustrations at http://www.plantillustrations.org/illustration.php?id_illustration=123032 looks similar to your plant, please note the fruits in the same illustration.
Attachments (5)


I further clarify why I am not satisfied with Vitis himalayana, I have suggested so far. FBI says the plant is glabrous what is not your species. But at the same time var. semicordata from Himalaya is hispidly pubescent.
Attachments (1)

Please ignore all suggestions I have provided in this thread out of my ignorance.


I’m not at all happy with C.carnosa but feeling quite at a loss with this id.
Looking through Matthew’s Flora of TN Carnatic I came across Ampelocissus araneosa, whose leaves look quite similar. Descriptions do not match entirely.
See what you think. Vitaceae members do display variation!


Thank you … for the efforts. Thanks …
Let us wait for some more time. Often the variations in plants lead to confusion, plus the lack of aspects in photos make it more difficult.

Cayratia mollissima as per another post of …


I am afraid we (… and I) haven’t reached to any conclusion in … thread yet. We will have to wait for – (1) Anurag Ji validates that all sizes do conform (2) Senior and experienced taxonomists/botanists validate that the fruits in the pictures are well within the defined limit of “round or globose berry”.
One question –  are we seeing any mature/almost mature fruit in any of the picture? If not can these fruits become globose after attaining full maturity?….. so fruit size is of prime importance.
Second question – how much extent will we allow regional variation?



/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/qPkv6Ma5qwhvu746zlZNCnfc2452t5T4v1qpMyuOkM1MQMNOR93nY5Kg9jUgFRyvzJlIuUIKkGNPO7LJAMUhGlV55K3UnYsu0uKEtOojIh_6Uw-w5000-h5000.jpg
via Species‎ > ‎C‎ > Cayratia mollissima (Wall.) Gagn. … family: Vitaceae

Flowers of India Discussions at efloraofindia more views in flickr more views on Google Earth
¿ kay-ray-SHE-yuh ? — Latin: Cayratia, from the Annamese vernacular name, cay-rat, a vineFlora Fauna Web
maw-LISS-ih-muh — softestDave’s Botanary
commonly known as: curry grapeAssamese: মেৰমেৰী লতা mermeree lataKannada: ಕಾಡು ದ್ರಾಕ್ಷಿ kaadu drakshi, ಕಾನಕಲ್ಲಟೆ kaanakallateTulu: ಕಾನಕಲ್ಲಟೆ kaanakallate
botanical names: Cayratia mollissima (Wall.) Gagn. … synonyms: Vitis mollissima Wall. … status at POWO
December 26, 2014 … Agumbe


Kannada names and their transliteration are correct.


¿ kay-ray-SHE-yuh ? — Latin: Cayratia, from the Annamese vernacular name, cay-rat, a vine … Flora Fauna Web
maw-LISS-ih-muh — softest … Dave’s Botanary

commonly known as: curry grape • Assamese: মেৰমেৰী লতা mermeree lata • Kannada: ಕಾಡು ದ್ರಾಕ್ಷಿ kaadu drakshi, ಕಾನಕಲ್ಲಟೆ kaanakallate • Tulu: ಕಾನಕಲ್ಲಟೆ kaanakallate

botanical namesCayratia mollissima (Wall.) Gagn. … synonymsVitis mollissima Wall. … status at POWO

Bibliography / etymology

~~~~~ ENGLISH ~~~~~
curry grape
  • name given for want of name; the monsoon annual wild (unripe) fruits are used in curries … Flora of Peninisular India – Herbarium JCB
~~~~~ ASSAMESE ~~~~~
মেৰমেৰী লতা mermeree lata
  • Many thanks to Farmer Tridip Gogoi for help with this name … facebook
~~~~~ KANNADA ~~~~~
ಕಾಡು ದ್ರಾಕ್ಷಿ kaadu drakshi
ಕಾನಕಲ್ಲಟೆ kaanakallate
~~~~~ TULU ~~~~~
ಕಾನಕಲ್ಲಟೆ kaanakallate
~~~~~ x ~~~~~