Cissampelos capensis leaves

The alternate leaves of Cissampelos capensis are broadly ovate to cordate (oval to heart-shaped) and nearly hairless. The entire leaf margins show some fine, granular or hairy unevenness in the bright light of the photo, as well as one leaf with a dark red margin. Leaves grow on long stalks (up to 3 cm) and become about 2,5 cm long, equally broad.

Sunlight assists in this photo to present the intricate patterns of the reticulated secondary veins branching from the midrib and lateral ones.

The fresh and bright looking leaves of this plant often contrast against glimpses of gnarled grey stem nodes from which they also spring, not only from new stems. The plant is a resprouter after fire (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; www.plantzafrica.com).