

Coccinia sessilifolia is a perennial, dioecious climber. The plants produce a deep perennial, fleshy root, and herbaceous, up to 5 m long shoots. The shoots are glabrous and have a waxy bluish-green cover. Leaves are alternate usually sessile.
Coccinia sessilifolia is a perennial, dioecious climber. The plants produce a deep perennial, fleshy root, and herbaceous, up to 5 m long shoots. The shoots are glabrous and have a waxy bluish-green cover. Leaves are alternate usually sessile. Only the first leaves of the shoots and in rare cases on mature shoots, short petioles can be observed.
The root weighs up to 25 kg and is eaten raw, boiled, or roasted. It is tasteless and fibrous.
The fruit of Coccinia sessilifolia is eaten both raw as well as boiled. The ripe fruit tastes sweetish but insipid. The unripe boiled fruit is similar to asparagus in texture and flavor. The fruits of Coccinia sessilifolia ripen from December to February and perish fairly rapidly.
Coccinia sessilifolia is native to savannas in southern Africa. It makes an attractive, easy to grow ornamental but is rather uncommon in cultivation.
An ideal plant for pergolas.
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