Ampelocissus ascendiflora is a herbaceous climber with a longitudinally ridged stem, up to 3 mm across, often white tomentose when young, turning brown when older. The tendrils are simple and each has a prominent, ovate bract, similar to the stipules. The leaf is white-tomentose when young, turning brown below and sparsely hairy above when older. The leaf blade is ovate, 4.5–18.0 × 5.5–14 cm, and petiole 4.5–16.0 cm long. The inflorescence is a panicle of spikes, 13–21 cm long. The flower has red petals and a yellow disc. The berry is about 8 mm across with 2 seeds about 7 × 6 mm. It is only known from the Malay Peninsula and Singapore.
| Ampelocissus ascendiflora | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Vitales |
| Family: | Vitaceae |
| Genus: | Ampelocissus |
| Species: | A. ascendiflora
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| Binomial name | |
| Ampelocissus ascendiflora Latiff
| |
Uses
editThe fruit of A. ascendiflora can be used in chinese herbs. It is dried and milled into powder capsules. The medicine can slowly lower the blood sugar levels. It works by decreasing the liver's production of glucose.
References
edit- About A. ascendiflora Latiff ,National University of Singapore retrieved 25 March 2013
- Ampelocissus ascendiflora Latiff , The Plant List , retrieved 2015-12-19