Menispermum canadense - (image 1 of 4)
Taxonomy
Family: Menispermaceae
Habitat
Rich woods, shaded floodplains.
Associates
Distribution
Most the eastern half of the U.S. but absent from ME and LA.
Morphology
Dioecious, taprooted, climbing vine to 5 m. Leaves palmately veined, broadly ovate to nearly orbicular, to 15 cm long and as wide, shallowly 3-lobed to entire. Inflorescence paniculate; flowers greenish-white, with 4-8 sepals that exceed the 6-9 petals; males flowers with 12-24 stamens; female flowers with 2-4 pistils. Fruit a blue-black drupe containing a flattened, crescent-shaped stone with 3 rough edges over most of its margin.
Notes
Flowers late May to mid July
Wetland indicator: Facultative +
The fruit of this plant is poisonous. The flattened seed, shallowly lobed leaves, and lack of tendrils distinguishes this plant from wild grapes.
References
Gleason, Henry A. and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of
Northeastern United States
and Adjacent Canada. Second Ed.
The New York Botanical Garden. Bronx, NY
Swink, F. and G. Wilhelm. 1994. Plants of the Chicago Region.
Indiana Academy of Science. The Morton Arboretum. Lisle, Illinois.
USDA, NRCS. 2002.
The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov).
National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.
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Michael Hough © 2005 |