[1] The centers of diversity are in Madagascar, eastern and western tropical Africa, and Southeast Asia.

[4] All Adenia are perennial plants, but there are many different forms, including herbs, vines, shrubs, and trees.

[5] Adenia can be found in a wide variety of habitat types, from dry African deserts to wet Southeast Asian rainforests.

[clarification needed] The calyx has five lobes and the five petals are usually smaller than the sepals and may be whitish or greenish.

One plant can have leaves of varying shapes and sizes, and young and old specimens can have different leaf types.

Various parts of A. cissampeloides are used to treat many conditions, including gastrointestinal problems, inflammation, pain, fever, malaria, leprosy, scabies, cholera, anemia, bronchitis, sexually transmitted diseases, menorrhagia, and mental illness.

The crushed twigs or smoke from burning roots can be used to calm honeybees during honey harvest.

[11] 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".

[10] The following is a list of all 106 species in this genus that are accepted by Plants of the World Online as of 3 July 2023[update] [13]