Treebine

Treebine; Cissus incisa Desmoul;. This soft stemmed, vine like, readily branching, deciduous plant that is a member of the grape family, Vitis, zig-zags between leaf nodes.  Three lobed, crisp, almost succulent leaves, with coarse, pointed teeth and drip tips on each lobe, bud from each node, alternating sides, a climbing tendril grows opposite each leaf.  Umbels of tiny green flowers which, like grapes, lack petals, bud from the ends of new growth, converting to loose bunches of black, juicy berries that look like grapes, but generally are not eaten.  Treebine grows abundantly in well watered areas, though its tuberous root stores water, making it drought tolerant.  It is usually found clamoring over other plants, but is often out of sight, as it readily climbs into the crowns of surrounding trees in search of light. (709) 6/10/17; 5/18/18; 19 no obs; 20 no obs;

Treebine habit; a woody, but soft vine-like plant that zig-zags between nodes, bearing coarsely toothed trifoliate leaves and umbels of tiny flowers that convert to juicy, black berries.

Note; crisp, succulent trifoliate leaves with coarse, pointed teeth on each leaflet, alternating along the soft stems, climbing tendrils growing opposite leaves at each node

Note; umbels of tiny greenish flowers lacking petals bud from the ends of new growth

Note; loose bunches of black, juicy, grape-like drupes, generally inedible, but not poisonous

Sumac, Skunk-Bush Sumac

Skunk-bush; Skunk-Bush Sumac Rhus aromatica var. flabelliformis Shinners;.  This tough, low-growing, evergreen shrub has three lobed leaves with rounded lobes (not pointed like Poison Ivy) born in an alternating pattern on thin, grey stems.  The leaves have a strong smell when crushed or cut, earning it the nick-name “Skunk-Bush”, although they do not smell remotely like skunk.  The scientific name ‘aromatica’, is more generous, though the smell is more offensive than aromatic.  Common in wooded areas of thin soil covering chalk limestone, skunk bush is nearly inconspicuous until winter, for the leaves are evergreen and the hairy fruit a dull red.  The tiny but fragrant, inconspicuous, greenish-white flowers open in mid March.  The fruit are little more than a thin, hairy skin covering a large, hard seed.  (630) 3/27 – 4/6/15; 17 no obs; 18 no obs (drupe 5/25/18); 3/25/19 (drupe 5/18/19); 20 no obs;

Skunk Bush habit; a low growing evergreen shrub with grey stems, alternating, three lobed leaves, and compact bunches of hairy, dull red berries

Note; trifoliate leaves, each leaflet with three rounded lobes, are not sharply pointed like Poison Ivy, and have a strong, offensive odor when cut or crushed

Note; tiny, inconspicuous, greenish flowers are born in short spikes from leaf axils

Note; terminal clumps of fragrant flowers open as new leaves are growing in

Note; clumps of hairy, dull red fruit, little more than thin skin covering hard seeds

Hop-Tree; Common Hop-Tree

Hop-Tree; Common Hop-Tree Ptelea trifoliata L (Stinking/Wafer Ash);  Ptelea is derived from the Greek for ‘wing’, referring to the winged seeds of Elm, Ash and Hop trees.  A small, variable, deciduous shrub with reddish stems that become warty and dark grey with age, and alternating trifoliate leaves divided into three elliptical leaflets.   Clusters of small (3/16”), white, intensely fragrant, short lived flowers, each with 4 petals and 4 yellow anthers, are born in dense panicles budding from the ends of new growth.  “Leaves-of-three, leave them be”, usually warns against Poison Ivy, but the Common Hop leaves are smooth and elliptical, and wider toward the ends (spatulate), with no serration along the edge, and although strong smelling when disturbed, are harmless.  Trifoliata (three leaves) describes the foliage pattern, earning the plant comparison to Texas Ash, so it is sometimes called ‘Stinking Ash’, for its smell, or ‘wafer Ash’ for the seed shape.  Seeds are suspended in a circular wing, called a samara.  The seeds float and drift, or tumble, rather than spinning, like the samara of Elm and Ash.  The root is pungent and bitter when cut or chewed. ( 591-593) 4/13/15-5/14/15 Samara; 4/13/16; 17 no observation; 4/25/18; 3/25/19-5/4/19; 4/15/20 (samara 5/25/20);

Common Hop Tree habit; an understory shrub with corky grey trunks, reddish stems, and alternating leaves in sets of three which bears fragrant flowers that convert to oval shaped samara.

Note; leaves of three with smooth margins, the central leaflet wider toward the end, born in an alternating spiral around new stems

Note; terminal panicles of small, intensely fragrant, short lived, 4 petal flowers, with yellow anthers

Note; oval samara, seeds within filamentous ‘wings’ which completely surround the seeds, (unlike Elm and Ash samara, which have a wing on one side only, causing them to whirl like a helicopter)

Creeper; Virginia Creeper

Creeper; Virginia Creeper/Five Fingered Creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia L; This ivy-like, deciduous vine crosses the forest floor in runners searching for tree trunks to climb in order to get its leaves to sunlight.  The vigorous growth drapes trees in dense mats of leaves, threatening to suffocate them.  It attaches itself to trunks, or brickwork with short clinging roots which grow directly from the vine, artificially resembling Poison Ivy.  The five, elongated “fingers” of the hand shaped leaves are soft and a lustrous light green with a coarsely toothed edge.  Blooming only irregularly, axillary panicles of tiny, green flowers produce loose clusters of greyish-blue to black, juicy berries eaten by birds.  Although they are not poison, they should be eaten only in moderation.  Common in all forests, it prefers shade, turning bronzed when in the full sun of open spaces or yards. (711-712) 17 no obs; 4/25/18; 19 no obs; 20 no obs;

Virginia Creeper habit; a liana like plant with 5 fingered palmate leaves that sends runners across the forest floor, searching for trunks to climb

Note; short clinging roots attach the soft liana directly to tree trunks.

Note; large, palmate leaves with 5 spatula shaped leaflets that have coarsely toothed margins, born alternately along the vining stems

Note; loose racemes of small greenish flowers produce juicy, greyish-blue to black berries. (no pix)

Note; clinging roots anchor the liana to the trunks of trees.

Note: Fall colors red

Watervine

Watervine (identification unknown).  

This vine has only been observed blooming along stream beds, marshy areas, or lake shores, but so far has eluded identification. The Medium sized (2-3”) leaves are strongly triangular with angular protuberances that curl around the stem, giving them a heart shaped profile, otherwise the leaf margins are smooth and untoothed.  Leaves are arranged alternately along the thin, fibrous vine, which twine up into the branches of low vegetation along streams.  Otherwise, the vine lacks any climbing mechanism.  Dense compound umbels of very fragrant, white flowers bloom in late August to September, most intensely fragrant in the afternoons and evening. Big Tree Circuit (Not in Books) 9/1/18; 19 not recrd;

Watervine habit; a vining plant with long fibrous stems, that lacking climbing tendrils, twines itself through surrounding vegetation, the strongly triangular, heart-shaped leaves born alternately

Note; dense compound umbels of fragrant, white flowers are born on peduncles 3-4″ long

Note; strongly triangular, heart shaped leaves with a prominent drip tip, are arranged along the fibrous, twining stems in an alternating pattern

Note; dense compound umbels of white flowers are born on stems 3-4″ long from the axils of leaves

 

Threadleaf

Threadleaf (Bishop’s weed) Ptilimnium capillaceum. A short (10-12”), fibrous plant that derives its name from its thread-like, compound pinnate leaves which divide into many threads per petiole, this annual blooms early, before it gets crowded out by taller vegetation.  The leaves clasp the slightly ribbed stems, the petioles wrapping them in a transparent sheath.  The weakly upright stems would sprawl if not supported by surrounding vegetation.  The flowers head are composed of tiny white flowers, born in a compound umbel, much like Hedge Parsley, each flower composed of 5 spatula shaped petals arranged around a yellow center.  Flowers convert to smooth, elongated seeds with slight “winglike” projections.  The plant differs from Hedge Parsley (Torilis arvensis) in the shape of the leaf, the season, and that flowers do not form sticky “velcro” seeds like Hedge Parsley. PDU, DK, PL (60) 4/22/15-6/5/15; 4/14/16-6/25/16; 3/27/17- ; 5/10/18; 4/1/19; 3/18/20

Threadleaf habit; low growing masses of soft, fibrous stems, with thread-like leaves, and bearing umbels of small white flowers

Note; each stem ends in a compound umbel of 5 spatula shaped petals arranged around yellow centers

Note; five, tiny basal stamen bear yellow anthers above the flower head, making them look slightly fuzzy

Note; low growing, soft, feathery, thread like leaf pattern

Note; compound pinnate leaves with thread-like leaflets which clasp the fibrous, ribbed stems,arranged in an alternating spiral

Note; leaf petiole clasps the stem, wrapping it in a sheath

Note; a low growing spread of Threadleaf, (and taller Delphinium)

Pea, Trailing Wild Bean

Trailing Wild Bean Straphostyles helvola.  A wild bean with trifoliate leaves arranged in an alternating pattern around long, fibrous stems common in well watered areas, like stream banks, marshes or lake shores.  Each of the three leaflets of the dark, glossy green leaves are broadly egg shaped.  Showy pink flowers, ¾” across, are born on long pedicles from leaf axils, 3-5 buds opening in slow succession so that buds, one open pink flower and pendulant been pods might be present at the same time.  The banner petal is pink, and slightly folded, forming a peaked hood over the wing petals and ovaries.  A conspicuous, dark purple keel petal is coiled in the hood, and a bright yellow dot is clearly visible at the base of the ovary.  Green bean pods hang straight down from the vines.  Flowers lack fragrance, but are most notable for their curled keel petal, unique among legumes.  Several Amerind tribes used parts of the plant medicinally, or ate the bean, both in green form and dried seed.  The seeds float, helping spread the plant along water sheds.  (Not in Book, 326 similar sp.) Stream beds along DORBA and Big Tree Circuit. 9/10/18; 19 not recrd;

Trailing Wild Bean habit; a long vine with glossy trifoliate leaves alternating along fibrous stems, and bearing single, showy, pink flowers which transform to long, round bean pods

Note; each of the three glossy, smooth leaflets is a broadly ovate (egg shape), the middle one born on a longer petiole

Note; round bean pods hang straight down from pedicles

Note; pink flowers open in slow succession so that buds, beans and flowers can be seen on the same pedicle at the same time.

Note; showy pink pea flowers are composed of a folded banner petal that forms a hood over the coiled, purple keel petal

Note; the visible yellow dot at the back of the hooded banner petal

 

Spurge, Flowering Spurge

Flowering Spurge Euphorbia corollata.  A soft-stemmed, shade-loving plant with lanky stems lined with, elliptical to spatula leaves that spiral around the stem.  Long, branching terminal flower sprays produce a few 1/2” white, cup shaped flowers that have five petals surrounding a greenish center.  Stubby pistol and anthers visibly protrude from the bottom of the center.  Unlike most Euphorbia, this plant has larger flowers with visible petals and flower structures.  Like other spurges the leaves and stems bleed white sap when broken or cut. Forest margins and forested areas. (not in book) 6/12/15; 6/4/16; 3/26/17- ; 3/?/18; 2/12/19 – ; 2/8/20

Flowering Spurge habit; lanky, fibrous plant with elliptical to spatula shaped leaves that spiral around the stem, and terminal clusters of white, cup-shaped flowers

Note; terminal spray of relatively large, white flowers, each with 5 petals

Note; oval petals form an open bowl around a central, green disk, with a short, towering pistol

Vetch, Spring Vetch

Spring Vetch (Garden Vetch) Vicia sativa. This early blooming, sprawling legume grows thick bunches of compound pinnate, frond-like leaves that alternate along the short, vine like stem.  Each leaf is comprised of 8 paired leaflets on a mid-rib, which ends with a forked climbing tendril.  Foliage resembles Locoweed, or Milk Vetches except that only Spring Vetch has climbing tendrils on the ends of leaves.  Pairs of small, pea-like, lavender and pink flowers are born on three inch stems that branch directly off central stalks, opposite the leaves.  Seed pods are round and bean-like, turning black before they crack and curl open.  Vetches bloom until the weather turns hot.  Common on all open spaces, but ceasing to bloom when the weather gets hot, and going dormant as other vegetation outgrows them. (324) 2/12/14; 3/19/15 – 5/5/15; 2/25/16; 2/27/17-5/2/17; 3/5/18; 3/23/19 ; 1/27/20 – 4/?/20;

Spring Vetch habit; dense clumps of vine-like stems with alternating, pinnate (frond-like) leaves, each ending with a forked tendril, bearing pairs of pink, pea like flowers

Note; alternating, pinnate (frond-like) leaves, each ending with a forked tendril, form sprawling clumps

Note; bean-like seed pods that turn black and curl, expelling the bean like seeds

Note; pairs of small lavender and pink, pea like flowers, born on 3” stems, branching off vines opposite the leaves

Note; each flower is composed of a large, flat, banner petal, and two perpendicular wing petals that house the pistol and stamen

Snapdragon Vine

Snapdragon Vine Maurandia artirrhiniflora. A slender, shade loving, vining plant with small (3/4” – 1 ½ ”), light green, triangular, pointed leaves, that grows in dense masses, twining up plants.  At every leaf node a leaf and a filamentous flower stem sprout, alternating sides along the vine.  Lacking climbing tendrils, the stems of flowers and leaves curl around small objects for support.  Dark red to purple tube flower are born singly, opening to a corolla of 5 lobes, two which point up, three which point down, the middle “lip” being reduced.  The throat of the flowers is a light yellow, the stamen visible on the roof of the tube mouth, like a snap dragon flower.  Flowers are frequently visited by hummingbirds.  Flowers convert to small capsules, the hard, angular seeds sprouting readily. Locally uncommon, the largest plant is at the first junction of the SWk (248) 3/15/16-6/20/16; 3/11/17-4/25/17; 3/25/18; 4/7/19; 2/20/20

Snap Dragon Vine habit; a vining plant with triangular, pointed leaves, bearing lavender and white tube flowers.

Note; Two petals up, three petals point down, the middle one reduced

Note; triangular leaves with sharply pointed lobes, alternate along fibrous stems

Note; dense masses of vining stems drape surrounding vegetation

Note; purple and white tube flowers with a white to yellow throat unfold to a corolla of 5 petals