About Cyphia sylvatica Eckl. & Zeyh.
Cyphia sylvatica Eckl. & Zeyh. is a twining climbing plant that grows from an underground tuber. Its leaves have short petioles that measure 2 to 6 millimeters long, and sometimes the leaves look almost sessile. The leaves are not divided, meaning they are entire, and range in shape from linear to elongated lanceolate. The tips of the leaves are pointed (acute), and the leaf bases narrow gradually into the short petiole. Leaf margins are most often finely toothed (denticulate); rarely, leaves may have two tiny spur-like lobes at the base. Near the ground at the base of the stems, much broader leaves sometimes occur. The flowers are bilabiate in shape, with the corolla tube split completely into two groups: three petals curve upward, and two curve downward. The stamens are 6 to 7 millimeters long. Flower color ranges from white to pale purple or mauve. This species is closely related to other southern Cape species including Cyphia volubilis and Cyphia digitata, and is often confused with them.
