Cynanchum ellipticum

{{Short description|Species of plant}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}

{{Speciesbox

|image = Cynanchum ellipticum00.jpg

|image_caption = Cynanchum ellipticum foliage

|image2 = Cynanchum ellipticum01.jpg

|image2_caption = Flowers of Cynanchum ellipticum

|genus = Cynanchum

|species = ellipticum

|authority = (Harv.) R.A.Dyer

|synonyms = {{species list |Bunburia elliptica|Harv.}}

|synonyms_ref =

}}

Cynanchum ellipticum is a South African climbing plant of the family Apocynaceae.{{cite web |url= https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:96174-1 |title= Cynanchum ellipticum (Harv.) R.A.Dyer |author= |date=n.d. |website=Plants of the World Online |publisher=The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |access-date=November 24, 2024}}{{cite web |url= https://www.catalogueoflife.org/data/taxon/338NR |title= Cynanchum ellipticum (Harv.) R.A.Dyer |author= |date=n.d. |website=Catalogue of Life |publisher=Species 2000 |access-date=November 24, 2024}} It has slender stems and branches, exuding milky, bitter latex that is non-irritant. It occurs in coastal scrub from Cape Town as far north as Mozambique and further inland up to 1300 m, and may be found on flats or moderate slopes, in sand or between rocks, in indigenous forests and along forest margins and thickets, frequently occurring in disturbed habitats.[https://web.archive.org/web/20131230233737/http://repository.up.ac.za/bitstream/handle/2263/8514/toxm_140.JPG?sequence=7 University of Pretoria]

This sprawling twiner has opposite semi-succulent leaves 20–40 mm long, 10–20 mm wide, elliptic to oblong, broadly elliptic with a prominent tip (apiculate) and a ring-like thickening where the petioles join the stem. Helicoid cymes of tiny, white or cream flowers grow from the axils of the leaves, having a tubular corolla and being sweetly scented. The horn-shaped fruits or follicles contain club-shaped plumed seeds.

The order Apocynales is renowned for the cardiac glycoside metabolites present in the roots, stems, leaves and seeds of its members. This species produces pregnane glycosides or cynanchosides. Ingestion of leaves by livestock may lead to Cynanchosis aka 'Krampsiekte'.{{cite journal|url=http://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/8514|title=Cynanchum species|journal=Original Format: University of Pretoria, Faculty of Veterinary Science |year=2002 |hdl=2263/8514 |last1=Botha |first1=C.J. |last2=Venter |first2=Elna}}{{cite web|url=http://www.bio.uni-bayreuth.de/psysl/picind/cynafr.php?pg=ccapense|title=Cynanchum ellipticum|publisher=}} This should not be confused with 'Krimpsiekte', brought on by species of Cotyledon and Tylecodon.{{cite web |url=https://www.landbou.co.za/kundiges/vra-vir-faffa/is-kiesieblaar-giftig-vir-vee |title=Is kiesieblaar giftig vir vee? |accessdate=2013-12-29 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230231834/https://www.landbou.co.za/kundiges/vra-vir-faffa/is-kiesieblaar-giftig-vir-vee |archivedate=2013-12-30 }} Cynanchosis in horses starts with abnormal behaviour and aggression, progressing to pain and lameness in the limbs and ending with an inability to stand.{{cite web|url=http://www.vet.cornell.edu/consultant/Consult.asp?Fun=Cause_4129&spc=All&dxkw=poison&sxkw=&signs=|title=Consultant|publisher=}} Because of this toxicity the species is regarded as a troublesome weed in some areas.{{cite web|url=http://www.hear.org/gcw/species/cynanchum_ellipticum/|title=Cynanchum ellipticum information from the Global Compendium of Weeds (GCW)|publisher=}}

The genus Cynanchum occurs worldwide and comprises some 200 species, with the major centre of diversity in Africa being in Madagascar where there are approximately 70 species.{{cite web|url=http://database.prota.org/PROTAhtml/Cynanchum%20schistoglossum_En.htm|title=Prota 2: Vegetables/Lgumes Record|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222233026/http://database.prota.org/PROTAhtml/Cynanchum%20schistoglossum_En.htm|archivedate=2014-12-22}}

The current name was published by R. A. Dyer in The vegetation of the Divisions Albany and Bathurst - Memoirs of the Botanical Survey of South Africa 17: 138. 1937. (Mem. Bot. Surv. S. Africa)