Common name: Pani Bel, Wavy-leaved Cissus • Hindi: पानी बेल Pani bel, Dekarbela • Manipuri: খোংঙৌযেন Khongngouyen • Marathi: गेंदळ Gendal • Telugu: Gummadithige, Nelaboddu, Pasupugodanithegani • Assamese: Medmedia-lop
Botanical name: Cissus repanda Family: Vitaceae (Grape family) Synonyms: Vitis repanda, Vitis pallida
Pani Bel is a large, woddy, deciduous climber. It is so named because its
watery sap is drunk by people in dry rural areas. Cylindrical branches are
covered with rusty hairs when young. Leaves are broadly ovate or circular,
6-17 cm long, 4-15 cm broad, deeply heart-shaped at the base, tapering at
the tip, margin toothed. Leaves becomes smooth when mature. Tony flowers
are born in dull red umbel-like cymes. Sepal cup is hairy outside. Petals
are 2-3 mm long, traingular, oblong. Berries are 7-10 mm long,
pear-shaped. Flowering: March-April.
Identification credit: Dinesh Valke
| Photographed at Burondi, Maharashtra. |
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