Among the Luhya, lunani and sinani are the male and female species of the same tree. Lunani and Sinani trees have somewhat similar characteristics and it is not easy to tell them apart. These trees of cultural value to the Luhya are both shrubs whose vines greatly intertwine with surrounding plants, such that they appear as climbers or scramblers.
Both indigenous trees can thrive on their own, but do better in the presence of big trees where they can intertwine themselves. The trees have brown stems with small thorns. Out of stems grow small branches that support compound leaves with many tiny leaflets. One branch, for example, can host 20 pairs of leaves.
