Ctenolepis

cerasiformis: cherry-like, referring to the small red fruits.

Perennial climbing herbs with annual stems. Leaves broadly ovate in outline, deeply palmately 3-5-lobed, roughly hairy above and on the veins below, cordate at the base; margin coarsely toothed or lobed. Large and conspicuous stipule-like bracts with long ciliate margins are present above the leaf axils, subtending the inflorescences. Flowers in axillary racemes; small, c. 5 mm in diameter, pale yellowish. Fruit subspherical, 1-1.5 cm in diameter, red when ripe.

Widespread in the Old World tropics from Senegal to East Africa and to northern South Africa. Also through Asia as far as India.