Rhoicissus tridentata subsp. cuneifolia

The leaves of Rhoicissus tridentata subsp. cuneifolia are trifoliolate, leathery and dark green with or without rusty brown, yellow or grey hairs on the lower or both surfaces. Special cases with five leaflets are known to occur. The shape of the symmetric terminal leaflet is obovate, while the lateral ones are asymmetric and ovate. The margins of the leaflets are toothed and sometimes lobed near the tips and on the outside of the lateral ones; elsewhere (on the margins between leaflets) they are often entire. New growth appears in pink to apricot colouring, caused by the dense, velvety hairs.

The long branched and rambling stems are hairy in the colours of rusty red, pale yellow or grey. Occasional tendrils grow from the stems among the leaves. They serve to attach, winding tightly around and clinging to the available supporting structures. Some idle tendrils can be seen searching in vain in the photo.

Flowers are small and greenish yellow, borne in small heads on slender furry peduncles that grow from the leaf axils. The fruits are spherical and fleshy, ranging in size between 1 cm and 1,8 cm in diameter. They soon grow red, then black as they ripen (Coates Palgrave, 2002).