About Vasconcellea chilensis Planch.
Vasconcellea chilensis Planch. is a deciduous shrub that loses its leaves in summer, and can be either monoecious or dioecious. It grows to 1–3 meters tall, with a thick, succulent trunk; adult plants have exfoliating bark at the trunk base. Its leaves vary greatly in shape, and are typically ovate, deltoid, or heart-shaped at the base, divided into 5 angular, membranous lobes. Leaf petioles measure 3–4 cm long. The flowers are 5–6 mm long, red on the outside and green on the inside; male flowers grow in small clusters, while female flowers are solitary. The fruit is ovoid and brownish-green, with oval seeds enclosed in mucilage.
