Princess vine facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Princess vine
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Vitales
Family:	Vitaceae
Genus:	Cissus
Species:	C. verticillata
Binomial name
Cissus verticillata (L.) Nicolson & C.E.Jarvis
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Synonyms
Cissus sicyoides L.

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Cissus verticillata, also known as the princess vine or seasonvine, is a cool plant that stays green all year round. It's a type of vine, like a grape plant, and belongs to the grapevine family. You can find it growing in warm places like Mexico, Florida, and South America.

Traditional Uses of the Princess Vine

For a long time, people have used the princess vine in what's called folk medicine. This means using plants and natural remedies that have been passed down through generations.

People used to believe that parts of this plant could help with different health issues. For example, some thought it could help with tummy aches or lower fevers. Others believed it might help with seizures. The root bark was even chewed to help make teeth stronger.

How the Princess Vine Got Its Name

The Cissus verticillata plant was first found in 1571 in Mexico. It was likely discovered in the area we now call Michoacán. A person named Nicolás Monardes was the first to write about it in 1574. He gave it the Spanish name Carlo Sancto.

When the plant arrived in Europe, people thought it looked a bit like hops, which are used to make beer. So, Caspar Bauhin named it Lupulus Mechiocanus. This name means "hop of Michoacán," linking it back to where it was found.

The roots of the princess vine were sent to Europe because people thought they had medicinal uses. This continued until the late 1700s, when reports of it being sold in Europe became less common.