Cissus trifoliata (L.) L. Common Names: Cow Itch Vine
Family: Vitaceae
Habit: Cissus trifoliata grows as a woody vine (not quite a liana) to 8 meters in length. It is swollen at the nodes. The slightly succulent tri-foliate leaves are arranged alternately, to 3 cm in length. The leaflets are obovate-oblong, with a serrate upper leaf margin and an acute leaf apex.
The complete, perfect, actinomorphic flowers are arranged in cymes. The calyx has 4 green fused sepals. The corolla has 4 greenish yellow unfused petals. There are 4 stamens. The ovary is half inferior with 2 locules and 4 seeds. The fruit is a berry turning purple-black at maturity.
Habitat: Cissus trifoliata grows climbing on other vegetation in mangroves and Dry Broadleaf Evergreen Formation – Woodland and Shrublands (open coppice).
Distribution: Cissus trifoliata occurs on the central and southern island groupings of the Lucayan Archipelago as well as the Caribbean, southern North, Central, and northern South America.
Medicinal/Cultural/Economic usage: Cissus trifoliata is not known to be used medicinally in the Lucayan Archipelago.