Know Your Natives – Trumpet Vine
Trumpet Vine or Trumpet Creeper (Campsis radicans) of the Trumpet Creeper (Bignoniaceae) family is a non-twining, tendril-free, woody vine with spectacular, large, orange to red, trumpet-shaped flowers. The genus name is Greek for “curved,” a reference to the curved stamens. The specific epithet is from Latin for “taking root” in…
Know Your Natives – Trumpet Honeysuckle
Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) of the Honeysuckle (Caprifoliaceae) family is a twining vine with spectacular, red and orange, trumpet-shaped flowers. The genus name honors Adam Lonicer,* a German botanist and herbalist. The specific epithet from the Latin for “always” and “green,” denotes the plant’s evergreen foliage in warmer climates. Occurrence…
Know Your Natives – Snoutbean
Snoutbean (Rhynchosia latifolia) of the bean or legume (Fabaceae) family is a perennial herbaceous plant with large trifoliate leaves. The genus name is from the Greek for “beak,” referring to the shape of the keel petals. The specific epithet is from the Latin for “broad leaves.” Snoutbean occurs from eastern…
Know Your Natives – Net-leaf Leather-flower
Net-leaf leather-flower (Clematis reticulata*) of the Buttercup (Ranunculaceae) family is a perennial herbaceous vine found in portions of the Southeastern U.S from eastern Texas and Oklahoma to South Carolina and Florida. In Arkansas, the species is recorded from north-central and southwestern parts of the state. It is found in mesic to dry,…
Know Your Natives – Wild Potato Vine
Wild potato vine (Ipomoea pandurata) of the Morning Glory (Convolvulaceae) family is a herbaceous (non-woody) perennial vine. It occurs in the US from Texas to Nebraska and eastward and southward to the borders. In Arkansas, it occurs statewide. Other common names include potato vine, wild sweet potato, man-of-the-earth and big…
Native Plant Portrait – Climbing-dogbane
Blooming now! The climbing-dogbane vine (Trachelospermum difforme) can easily be mistaken for Carolina jasmine (Gelsemium sempervirens) when out of bloom. The opposite leaves on climbing-dogbane are similar, but slightly broader and not as thick, and have milky sap when compared to Carolina jasmine. Text and photographs by ANPS member Michael…
Know Your Natives – Carolina Moonseed
Carolina Moonseed (Cocculus carolinus) of the Menispermaceae (Moonseed Family) occurs in the U.S. in the mid-western and southern states. This semi-woody, scrambling or climbing vine occurs throughout Arkansas in shady to partly sunny woods and thickets and along streams and fence rows. It is a slender twining vine without tendrils…
Know Your Natives – Baldwin’s Climbing Milkweed and Anglepod Milkvine
Baldwin’s climbing milkweed (Matelea baldwyniana) and Anglepod milkvine (Matelea gonocarpos or Gonolobus suberosus depending on which authorities are followed) of the Apocynaceae (Dogbane) Family, formerly of the Asclepiadaceae (Milkweed) Family, are herbaceous, perennial, trailing to climbing vines. These vines grow in various rocky, well-drained soils in open woodlands, ravines and overgrown areas. Each plant…
Know Your Natives – Yellow Passionflower
Yellow passionflower (Passiflora lutea) of the Passifloraceae (Passionflower) Family is found in the US from Texas to Kansas to Illinois and eastward to the coast. In Arkansas, it is found throughout the state. Yellow passionflower is more delicate in appearance and less aggressive than purple passionflower. The species grows in…
Know Your Natives – Purple Passionflower
Purple passionflower or maypop(s) (Passiflora incarnata) of the Passifloraceae (Passionflower) family is found in the US from Kansas to Illinois to Pennsylvania, south to Texas and Florida. In Arkansas, it occurs statewide. Purple passionflower, a herbaceous (non-woody) perennial vine, grows well in acidic or slightly alkaline soils that are sandy,…
Know Your Natives – Wild Yam
Wild Yam (Dioscorea villosa) of the Dioscoreaceae (Yam Family), occurs from Texas to Nebraska to Minnesota and states eastward to the Atlantic Coast. In Arkansas, wild yam occurs statewide. The plant, a monocot (one seed leaf), is a twining vine which prefers a moist habitat, but will also grow in…
Know Your Natives – “Leaves of three, let it be”…usually
We have all heard the advice, “Leaves of three, let it be”. Two native Arkansas plants, poison-ivy and poison-oak, have three leaflets per leaf and contain urushiol, an oily allergen. Following direct or indirect contact, many people experience allergic reactions (contact dermatitis) resulting in skin redness, itching, swelling, and blisters, with…
Arkansas Native Plant Society 