sap of A. bequaertii are taken to treat headache, mental illness, and possession. A. lobata stems are applied to sites of Guinea worm infection during extraction of the worm. It is also used as an enema and an aphrodisiac. A. cissampeloides is used as a fish poison and arrow poison. The red-colored sap is used as a cosmetic. The stems can be made into rope. The crushed twigs or smoke from burning roots can be used to calm honeybees during honey harvest. The leaves of A. cissampeloides are eaten as a vegetable in parts of Africa. A. digitata is cultivated as an ornamental plant for its very large, distinctive aboveground tuber. Toxicity Many Adenia are poisonous. They contain lectins such as lanceolin, stenodactylin, and volkensin, which are toxic to cells. They cause apoptosis, hemagglutination, inhibition of protein synthesis, and depurination of ribosomes and DNA. Mouse experiments with small doses of lanceolin and stenodactylin, from A. lanceolata and A. stenodactyla, respectively, revealed that they are "amongst the most potent toxins of plant origin". The fruit of A. digitata has been used in Africa to commit homicide and suicide. Diversity There are approximately 100 species in the genus. Species include: Adenia aculeata Engl. Adenia acuta Adenia boivinii Adenia cardiophylla Adenia cissampeloides (Planch. ex Hook.) Harms – monkey rope, snake climber, wild granadilla Adenia cladosepala (Baker) Harms Adenia densiflora Adenia digitata Engl. Adenia ellenbeckii Harms Adenia firingalavense (Drake ex Jum.) Harms Adenia formosana Hayata Adenia fruticosa Burtt Davy Adenia glauca Schinz Adenia globosa Engl. Adenia goetzii Adenia gummifera Adenia heterophylla Adenia hondala (Gaertn.) W.J.de Wilde Adenia huillensis Adenia karibaensis Adenia keramanthus Harms Adenia kigogoensis Adenia kirkii Adenia lanceolata Adenia litoralis Adenia lobata (Jacq.) Engl. Adenia macrophylla Adenia mcdadiana Adenia metamorpha Adenia olaboensis Claverie Adenia pachyphylla Adenia pechuelii Harms Adenia penangiana Adenia pyromorpha Adenia racemosa Adenia repanda Adenia rumicifolia Adenia spinosa Burtt Davy Adenia stenodactyla Adenia stylosa Adenia subsessilifolia H.Perrier Adenia venenata Forssk. – akerbia Adenia volkensii Harms – kiliambiti Adenia wightiana References Further reading Malpighiales genera Dioecious plants