Rhoicissus tomentosa
Encyclopedia
Rhoicissus tomentosa is a vigorous, evergreen vine that is indigenous to the afro-montane forests
of southern Africa
. It is increasingly popular as an ornamental creeper in gardens, and it has a wide range of uses in traditional medicine.
that naturally reaches up to the forest
canopy and covers the tree-tops with its foliage. New velvety shoots grow upwards, reaching out with their tendril
s, while established stems hand like rope from the canopy and resemble liana
s.
The large, simple, roughly circular leaves are deep green above and soft and velvety below. In fact, they resemble the 3-lobed leaves of their Eurasian relative, the Grapevine (Vitis vinifera
), with slightly serrated, wavy margins. The leaves start off as maroon or copper-coloured with thick velvety fur (tomentosa = "velvety"), they turn a dark rich green as they mature, and finally before they fall they become crimson.
The creeper produces clumps of furry flower-buds that open into small flower
s in summer. These are followed by bunches of dark purple, edible, grape
-like berries. The berries make a good jam.
, eastwards throughout the coastal afro-temperate forests of South Africa
, and inland as far as Zimbabwe
.
for African gardens. It can also be grown in the shade (and even indoors) as well as in the open sun.
It can be used as a groundcover in shady areas; it can be planted to grow up walls like ivy (although it requires a trellis of some sort for its tendrils to hold onto); it readily climbs up and over a fence to form a screen or hedge; and it can even be used to make wire-basket topiaries.
The Cape Grape can easily be grown from seed, although cuttings can also be rooted.
Afromontane
Afromontane is a term used to describe the Afrotropic subregion and its plant and animal species common to the mountains of Africa and the southern Arabian Peninsula...
of southern Africa
Southern Africa
Southern Africa is the southernmost region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. Within the region are numerous territories, including the Republic of South Africa ; nowadays, the simpler term South Africa is generally reserved for the country in English.-UN...
. It is increasingly popular as an ornamental creeper in gardens, and it has a wide range of uses in traditional medicine.
Appearance
A lush, dense, attractive creeperCreeper
Creeper, Creepers, or The Creeper may refer to:- Plants and animals:* Birds of the families Certhiidae treecreepers:** Brown Creeper ** the Climacteridae Australasian treecreeper** the Rhabdornithidae Philippine creeper...
that naturally reaches up to the forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
canopy and covers the tree-tops with its foliage. New velvety shoots grow upwards, reaching out with their tendril
Tendril
In botany, a tendril is a specialized stem, leaf or petiole with a threadlike shape that is used by climbing plants for support, attachment and cellular invasion by parasitic plants, generally by twining around suitable hosts. They do not have a lamina or blade, but they can photosynthesize...
s, while established stems hand like rope from the canopy and resemble liana
Liana
A liana is any of various long-stemmed, woody vines that are rooted in the soil at ground level and use trees, as well as other means of vertical support, to climb up to the canopy to get access to well-lit areas of the forest. Lianas are especially characteristic of tropical moist deciduous...
s.
The large, simple, roughly circular leaves are deep green above and soft and velvety below. In fact, they resemble the 3-lobed leaves of their Eurasian relative, the Grapevine (Vitis vinifera
Vitis vinifera
Vitis vinifera is a species of Vitis, native to the Mediterranean region, central Europe, and southwestern Asia, from Morocco and Portugal north to southern Germany and east to northern Iran....
), with slightly serrated, wavy margins. The leaves start off as maroon or copper-coloured with thick velvety fur (tomentosa = "velvety"), they turn a dark rich green as they mature, and finally before they fall they become crimson.
The creeper produces clumps of furry flower-buds that open into small flower
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
s in summer. These are followed by bunches of dark purple, edible, grape
Grape
A grape is a non-climacteric fruit, specifically a berry, that grows on the perennial and deciduous woody vines of the genus Vitis. Grapes can be eaten raw or they can be used for making jam, juice, jelly, vinegar, wine, grape seed extracts, raisins, molasses and grape seed oil. Grapes are also...
-like berries. The berries make a good jam.
Distribution
The Cape Grape can be found throughout the wetter regions of southern Africa, from the forests on the eastern slopes of Table MountainTable Mountain
Table Mountain is a flat-topped mountain forming a prominent landmark overlooking the city of Cape Town in South Africa, and is featured in the flag of Cape Town and other local government insignia. It is a significant tourist attraction, with many visitors using the cableway or hiking to the top...
, eastwards throughout the coastal afro-temperate forests of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, and inland as far as Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
.
Growing Rhoicissus tomentosa
A very attractive and easy-to-grow creeper for gardening. Its even, multi-coloured, evergreen foliage is particularly attractive and ornamental, and it makes a good local alternative to IvyIvy
Ivy, plural ivies is a genus of 12–15 species of evergreen climbing or ground-creeping woody plants in the family Araliaceae, native to western, central and southern Europe, Macaronesia, northwestern Africa and across central-southern Asia east to Japan and Taiwan.-Description:On level ground they...
for African gardens. It can also be grown in the shade (and even indoors) as well as in the open sun.
It can be used as a groundcover in shady areas; it can be planted to grow up walls like ivy (although it requires a trellis of some sort for its tendrils to hold onto); it readily climbs up and over a fence to form a screen or hedge; and it can even be used to make wire-basket topiaries.
The Cape Grape can easily be grown from seed, although cuttings can also be rooted.