Cissus erosa

Native from Mexico through tropical America, this vine climbs or scrambles over surrounding vegetation and develops woody stems with age. Young stems are angled or winged, becoming more cylindrical as they mature. Its leaves usually consist of three toothed leaflets, with the central leaflet larger than the lateral pair. Long flower stalks support branched clusters of tiny orange to red flowers. Each flower has four separate petals and a small central disk. The smooth berries become black when ripe and contain a single seed. In Costa Rica, the species grows in moist forests, savannas, disturbed areas, and along rivers, swamps, and lagoons. Photographed in the Cauca Valley, Colombia.