Names: Chasmanthera palmata; Cocculus palmata; Menispermum palmatum.
English: Kalumba; Colombo.
French: Calumba.
Region: tropical East Africa.
Content isoquinoline alkaloids; lacks tannins.
BotanyA perennial climbing plant, vine, twining; tall, often reaching the tops of trees.
Root: tuberous, large, fleshy, ± 5 cm in diameter, with a thick bark, yellowish inside, outside greyish brown.
Taste: muscilagenous and very bitter.
Stems: annual, one or two from each root, are hair with glandular tips.
Leaves: large, bright green, membranous, palmate, alternate, long petioled.
Flowers: insignificant, greenish white; dioecious.
Female flower is followed by moon-shaped stone in a drupe.
Male flowers: in long panicles.