About Cyphia volubilis (Burm.f.) Willd.
Cyphia volubilis (Burm.f.) Willd. is a twining climbing species that grows from an underground tuber. Its leaves are simple, linear, and have an entire outline, though they are often densely denticulate. Its bracts can resemble leaves; they are either entire, or have a protruding or lobed tooth on both sides at their base, and 3-lobed bracts occur rarely. Flowers of this species are bilabiate in shape, with the corolla tube completely divided into two sections; three petals curve upwards, and two curve downwards. The species has very short stamens, measuring 3 to 4 millimeters long, which is only one quarter to one third of the length of the corolla. Flowers are white or pale grey-purple, and usually have small purple spots on the inner surface of the petals, deep within the flower. Cyphia volubilis is closely related to other southern Cape species, such as Cyphia digitata and Cyphia sylvatica, and it is often confused with these species.
