This geophyte is from the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. It is the most massive pachycaul of the Vitaceae and some consider it to be the second most massive succulent after the baobabs. It hardly looks like a typical Cyphostemma, with its linear purple-green leaves and tree-like form. The leaves turn green and ovate with increasing plant height. The flowers are tiny and yellow green and clearly place this as a Cyphostemma. These plants are seedlings in one-gallon pots.