6. Cissus Linn., Sp. Pl. 117. 1753. Benth. & Hook. f., Gen. Pl.1:387. 1862; DC., Prodr. 1:627. 1824; Planch. in Monogr. Phaner 5: 470.1887; Elias in Ann. Miss. Bot. Gard. 55(2): 84. 1968.
S. NAZIMUDDIN AND M. QAISER
Climbing herb or small shrubs, sometimes succulent, roots often tuberous, stem mostly 4 angled rarely winged, glabrous-pubescent. Tendril leaf opposed, simple or forked, stipules in pair, caducous. Leaves alternate, simple entire, lobed or 3-5 foliate, ptiolate. Inflorescence of axillary or terminal corymbs, umbels or cymes, opposite the leaves. Flowers 4-merous, bisexual or functionally male. Clayx cupular, entire or shallowy 4-lobed. Petals 4, valvate, cucullate or slightly spreading, and falling separately after anthesis. Disc cupular, margin 4-lobed, surrounding the ovary and adherent to its base. Ovary bilocular, biovulate, style subulate, often persisting, stigma small discoid. Berry 1-2 seeded. Seeds obovoid, attenuate at the base, often trigonous.
A large genus of about 350 tropical or rarely sub-tropical species, represented by 2 species in Pakistan, one of which is cultivated.
