Cissus
(from Kissos, Ivy; in reference to the habit). ORD. Ampelideae. This genus is now generally merged into Vitis. Climbing plants, with cymes or corymbs of small greenish, yellow, or purplish flowers, and simple, trifoliate, or palmate leaves.
As a roof climber, or bracket or trellis plant, C. discolor is universally admired. Two parts turfy peat, and one of loam and leaf mould, with a fair proportion of gritty sand, suits it well, either for basket or pot culture, or for planting out. Of course, in the latter case, the soil used will be coarser, and the drainage must be more ample. It thrives well in large pots; but for a fine growth over lofty roof girders or arches, or up pillars, it is best planted out. It luxuriates in bottom heat, displaying an unusual size and colour of leaf when growing freely in a surface temperature of 70deg., and a bottom heat of 80deg. Still, it also grows and colours well without bottom heat, and in the usual temperature of the plant stove. Propagation is easily effected by cuttings; more so in the spring than at any other season. There are, then, two modes of rooting. One consists in choosing the weakly shoots that are pruned just before the plants break into new growth. The other plan is even more successful: allow the young shoots to grow to a length of about 2in.; then cut them off, with a small piece of the base branch adhering to the young wood; or the shoots may be cut off with one or several of these young branchlets on them. Cut the old branch through at the base of each young one, and insert the cuttings with this heel of old wood entire. Very sandy soil or pure sand should be used for them. The cuttings should be plunged in a sharp bottom heat, in a close frame. They strike all the sooner if protected with bell glasses. Pot off so soon as rooted, and push on in a temperature of 70deg, to 80deg. When the plants are in full growth, and making long and strong shoots, they will be greatly benefited by the application of a little manure water. Great care must, however, be taken to use only a very weak solution; otherwise, instead of assisting the plants, it will prove very detrimental to them.
C. discolor (various-coloured).* fl. greenish-yellow; cymes somewhat quinquefid, shorter than the leaves. August. l. cordate-oblong, acuminated, the edges furnished with bristly serratures; upper surface of a bright velvety-green, spotted or mottled with white; under side of a deep reddish-purple; both surfaces, as well as the angular branches, smooth. Java, 1854. (B. M. 4763.) C. porphyrophyllus (purple-leaved). A synonym of Piper porphyrophylla.