Begonia vine (Cissus discolor)

Irah-irah or begonia vine or cissus javana (Cissus discolor) is a plant species in Vitaceae, semi-perennial in tropical climates, grows on the surface of the ground or climbs, up to 4 m long, has two varieties, namely Cissus discolor var. mollis and Cissus discolor var. rotundifolia.

C. discolor has soft fleshy leaves and stalks. The leaves have an oval shape, the base is heart-shaped, the tip is pointed, the edges are slightly serrated, the surface is wavy, a main bone in the middle with several sideways veins.

The leaves on the top surface have a doff dark green color with silver trimmings filling the spaces between the veins, while the other varieties have a color only green. The bottom surface is glosy maroon color. These color features are very important which differentiate them from other species.

The single stem has a square shape with corners, green or red in color and is strong but flexible. The internodes produce maroon petioles, roots or spiral stalks as new shoots or hooks to supports for propagating on the ground or climbing trees.

Cissus discolor var. mollis has smaller mature leaves and a narrower shape ratio with a width of 9 cm and a length of 13 cm. Cissus discolor var. rotundifolia has larger mature leaves and a fatter shape ratio with a width of 14 cm and a length of 23 cm.

The flowers in panicles, whitish yellow and red in color, grow at each leaf junction along the stem and have yellow stalks. The fruit in a panicle, spherical, blackish red, has a large stalk and is red in color.

Begonia vine lives in the shade on the forest floor with a pH of 6.1-7.5, usually under large trees for climbing media. Thrives in a shady place with sunlight intensity of 60-75% at an altitude of 400-1000 m.

Trenches are found on slopes, flat surfaces in primary forest, secondary forest and abandoned lands on clay and sandy soil. Widely used as an ornamental plant in hanging pots, it is also useful as a medicine for swelling, abdominal pain and menstrual laxative.

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Vitales
Family: Vitaceae
Genus: Cissus
Species: Cissus discolor
Varieties: Cissus discolor var. mollis and Cissus discolor var. rotundifolia

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