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Cyphostemma mappia (Mapou tree or bois mapou) is a species of caudiciform succulent plant endemic to Mauritius. It is sometimes known as the "Mauritian baobab", though it is a member of the grape family (Vitaceae) and unrelated to the true Baobabs of Africa.
This species is endangered, but is beginning to be propagated in its native Mauritius, as an ornamental landscaping plant.
It is relatively slow-growing, but is increasingly used as a decorative ornamental for hotels and public landscaping in Mauritius.
It is easily propagated by cuttings, which can be rooted in water, or in a damp, shady environment. It can also be grown from seed.
It used to be widespread throughout the dry and semi-dry forests of the island, but especially in more exposed or mountainous areas. It was reported to be extremely common especially on and around Le Pouce and in the north, especially around the town of Mapou (to which it gave its name), although it was already rare there by 1800. It was also reported in large numbers in the hills and mountains around Moka; as well as in the lowland forests across the island.
African Tree Grape · Pucker Grape · Cyphostemma crotalarioides · Butter Tree · Namibian Grape · Cyphostemma laza · Cyphostemma ternatum · Wild Grapes
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Cyphostemma mappia by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts are shared under the same licence.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
