Flora and fauna of the Athens County area, and occasionally habitats outside Ohio. Subject matter will consist of both interpretive material and taxonomic issues in plant and animal identification.

Saturday, February 14, 2015

Let's Go Climbing

Climbing Milkweed, Matelea obliqua. There are countless wildflowers that are classified as vines, but you only have a limited time to observe them in bloom. Let's look at woody plants instead, and check them out in winter condition where the climbing mechanisms are not obscured by the leaves.

Virginia Creeper, Parthenocissus quinquefolia. The name is appropriate, as this vine creeps up tree trunks. Young plants attach to the bark by means of these round sucker pads. They adhere so strongly that if you pull them off, the bark often breaks away before the vine does. These aerial rootlets as they are often called, pop out about every second or third node, or where the bud and leaves occur.


As Virginia Creeper ages, those sucker discs are replaced by very thick aerial rootlets that look like mop hairs or dreadlocks. If this is the only part of the plant you look at, you may mistake it for Poison Ivy.

Virginia Creeper buds are orange and scaled. The leaf scars are circular, and deeply impressed like craters. We should compare it to Poison Ivy which often grows along side it.

Poison Ivy, Toxicodendron radicans, sends out its aerial rootlets throughout the plant, both above and below, regardless of the age of the vine. The hairs are much thinner when compared to Va. Creeper.

When in doubt, go right to the new growth twigs. The leaf scars are V shaped and not deeply impressed in the twig. The buds are also orangish or peach colored, but fuzzy and soft scaled, or what we call naked. Virginia Creeper grows tight against the tree trunk, as if it was scared of heights. Poison Ivy will send its branches outward, as if it was wanting to reach out and touch you.

It's hard to mistake the beautiful flowers of the Trumpet Creeper, Campsis radicans, but what do you look for when the flowers and leaves have dropped?


The light brown twigs are easy to spot against a darker background. More important is the arrangement of the rootlets. On Trumpet Creeper they are all concentrated in small batches that pop out periodically like a scrub brush along the twig.

Another group of climbing vines are the Wild Grapes, Vitis. The older bark on Grape becomes shreddy, and as kids we would swing on them in the woods, our so called Tarzan vines.

Grapes start growing by sending out tendrils. Many types of tendrils are essentially modified leaves. The ends are curly and wrap around twigs like a bull whip. This gives the grape vine support as it climbs higher. Some tendrils tighten their curls and help pull a plant upward.

Another group of plants with tendrils are the Greenbriers. These tendrils allow many of the species, including this Glaucous Greenbrier, Smilax glauca, to climb high into trees.

Sawbrier, Smilax rotundifolia, is less picky about where its tendrils land. They often attach to other Sawbriers, or even branches on the same plant. This results in shrub like thickets we often refer to as brier patches. (Sometimes briar is spelled with an a).

Canada Moonseed, Menispermum canadense. This dark vine looks like a skinny snake climbing a tree. They don't use aerial rootlets or tendrils. Their method of climbing is to simply wrap around a trunk.

Up close Moonseed has round leaf scars like Virginia Creeper. What's different is that knife cut, a small slit or notch located at the top of the leaf scar.

Another climbing vine that wraps around plants, (including itself), is one of the top five worst invasive species in Ohio, the Japanese Honeysuckle, Lonicera japonica. When honeysuckles climb on themselves, they don't seem to damage each other.

Once they fixate on a steady growing tree, they begin to choke the life out of it. Here you can see the vine squeezing so hard it has become imbedded into the bark.


This results in the cambium layer being shut off, which can be fatal to small trees. You have probably seen people hiking with fancy curled walking sticks. Japanese Honeysuckle is one of the species responsible for those designs.

There has been another choking vine in our woods long before honeysuckle was a problem. Many of those walking sticks I mentioned were a result of this sprawling vine, American Bittersweet, Celastrus scandens.

In the winter, Bittersweet can be recognized by the buds. Like creeper and ivy, they too are colored orange. These are very small and pointy, as if the twig had goosebumps.

Nature has its checks and balances. As a native species, Bittersweet has limiting factors which prevent it from becoming too abundant, and therefor is not a threat to overall forest growth. Our real concern should be with Oriental Bittersweet, Celastrus orbiculatus. Yes, you guessed it, another exotic invasive. Our native species produces these orange capsules at the ends of the branches, while Oriental produces fruit ALL OVER the entire plant. American has broadly egg shaped leaves, while Oriental has round leaves.

Ah, the tangled webs we weave. Here a Raspberry tries to wiggle through a nearly impenetrable thicket of Grape, Virginia Creeper, Honeysuckle, and Bittersweet.

46 comments:

  1. When I saw vines ... I was hoping you'd get into twining "right-handed vs. left", "clockwise vs. counterclockwise", etc. There seems to be a lot of confusing info on web about that. Do you find the character useful for species characterization, or even a good method to understand it? Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I have no knowledge on that subject Ron. While a student, or in later years in the field, I've never had a single botanist mention it. Not saying there isn't any value to the idea, I've simply never needed that character for group or species identification.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Once again, the public has come to recognize my work, and through rationalization, accept (it). It’s purpose is therefore served. Time once again, to shed yet another skin (in both name and medium), and hide, in plain sight, among you. As I’ve done, eight times already, across the breadth of the American landscape. Not one solitary Clevelander understands fully; what art, at it’s best, is all about. Not one. That you should have extended your opinion, even one which compliments, and suggests a glimmer of comprehension; has become so much warm air washing over me. To be so utterly alone witin my field, brutally painful.

    Marc Breed, Fine Artist
    Cleveland, Ohio
    http://rnc2016clevelandposter.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  4. There seems to be a lot of confusing info on web about that.To know abot this follow below mail id
    kristopher@mail.postmanllc.net

    ReplyDelete
  5. I think you're missing one of my least favorites and most necessary to id in the field - poison ivy! I've seen poison ivy vines that can do what you described Japanese honeysuckle doing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He lists poison ivy. 6th photo down from top.

      Delete
  6. wow! pertandingan sabung ayam yang sangat seru dari sudut AGAW melawan BIYA untuk anda yang mau menonton silahkan akses link ini www.sateayam.co
    taruhanayamonline.wordpress.com/2018/06/25/perbedaan-ciri-adu-ayam-dengan-yang-lokal/

    ReplyDelete
  7. Beberapa Cara Untuk Menang Dengan Mudah Dalam Situs Judi Sabung Ayam Online Klik Di Sini

    Agen Sabung Ayam Online Terbaik Dan Juga Terpercaya http://www.bakarayam.co

    Informasi Terlengkap Mengenai Sabung Ayam

    bakarayam330033.blogspot.com/2018/08/model-latihan-untuk-ayam-aduan-yg-dapat.html/

    ReplyDelete
  8. yep I recognize the bittersweet vine, cant say which they are, also climbing buckwheat as well, as for vines killing trees they wont be doing it in my yard this year was my first time of using a chain saw (I was kind of scared to use one) and the vines have been getting hammered. I don't want them to kill the sassafras, pin oak, the pear, and a few maples we have. boy how thick the stems were from years of growing. now they have to regrow again. my chainsaw will be waiting for them.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hello ! I simply would like to give you a
    huge thumbs up for your excellent info you have right
    here on this post. I will be returning to your website for more soon.

    Link Sbobet

    Link Sbobet Anti Internet Positif

    Link Sbobet Terbaru 2019

    ReplyDelete
  10. Our goal is to help thousands of sales marketing teams around the world through our products. While growth is important, team and values are paramount. We’re always striving to do impactful work we’re proud of in lieu of chasing overnight success.

    automate linkedin connections
    google forms zapier
    orca price
    how to hack google forms
    push leads

    ReplyDelete
  11. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  12. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Pretty good post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your blog posts.
    Kevlar jeans
    Kevlar shirts

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thank you for taking the time to publish this information very useful!
    womens biker apparel
    best motorcycle jeans

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thanks for sharing nice information with us. i like your post and all you share with us is uptodate and quite informative.
    womens motorcycle jeans
    motorcycle safety gear

    ReplyDelete
  16. The very Nice post to read from the interesting article and I really like that one of the interesting content in the post and really helpful for me and for other readers on that website to read that, I am expecting more such kind of posting from the writer So Nice.
    http://clovisentp.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Thanks for sharing The Awesome content. I will also share it with my friends. Great Content thanks a lot.
    http://maherleathers.com

    ReplyDelete
  18. You can get Apple-certified repairs and service at the Apple Store or with one of our Apple Authorized Service Providers.
    mobile phone repair in Niles
    Worked as a Senior SEO & Digital & Social Media & Graphics Design & cpa & Drop shipping & Video Editing And Youtube & Web Design And Development & Affiliate Marketing trainer at BITM (BASIS Institute of Technology & Management) since 2014-2018. Successfully completed 50+ SEO batches, 20+
    Affiliate Marketing batches and 30+ workshop on Freelancing under SEIP (Skills for Employment Investment Program).
    Best Graphic Design training in Bangladesh
    Free bangla sex video:careful

    ReplyDelete
  19. I can see that you are an expert at your field! I am launching a website soon, and your information will be very useful for me.. Thanks for all your help and wishing you all the success in your business.

    seo services in lahore

    ReplyDelete
  20. thanks for the tips and information..i really appreciate it..

    seo company in lahore

    ReplyDelete
  21. I love the way you write and share your niche! Very interesting and different! Keep it coming!

    web hosting in lahore

    ReplyDelete
  22. Are you looking for Erotic Services in Vernon We provide best Escorts Services.

    Contact one of the many girls who advertise for free on 5escorts and check all the escort services offered, only for you: all sex positions, BDSM, GFE, gangbang, anal sex, orgy, dominatrix, oral... Choose and call now!
    http://edmonton.5escorts.ca/location/

    ReplyDelete
  23. People actually believe there is no cure for HIV due to what our medical Doctor do always say to us..but now i know that there is a cure for it Through herbal remedy' i and my boyfriend was once haven HIV Virus  we contacted DR Vincent for herbal treatment and he prepared us some herbs which we take for some couples of days, and we take it as he says before i am to know,me and my boyfriend was perfectly cure for it and tested negative. please friends if you have be diagnosed with hiv virus or any other similar virus and you really wants to get rid of it, please contact this great Dr Vincent for herbal treatment and you will get rid of it. do not let the medical doctor make you loose hope of healing, you can get rid of it through  herbs and roots EMAIL
    dr.vincentherbalhome6@gmail.com cell phone whatsapp contact  +2349159559277 thank you so much dr Vincent Facebook page @Drvincentherbalhome .  

    ReplyDelete
  24. Leolist Richmond

    Are you looking for Leolist Richmond? We have the best alternative of Leolist Richmond here on https://richmond.xgirl.ca/
    Visit richmond.xgirl.ca/ today and find the best results related to Leolist Richmond.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Excellent post. I used to be checking continuously this blog and I’m inspired! 토토

    ReplyDelete
  26. Very interesting information and i really glad to getting this information. 릴게임

    ReplyDelete
  27. whoah this blog is wonderful i love reading your posts. Keep up the great work! You know, many people are searching around for this information, you can aid them greatly. 토토

    ReplyDelete
  28. Pg Slot website, register for free, confirm Otp, get 100% free credit, unlimited. pg slot

    ReplyDelete
  29. This blog is full of unique words and i must read your next blog. Visit us to get web development services in lahore
    .

    ReplyDelete
  30. Good post! This is a very good blog that I will definitely come back to many more times! Thanks for the article.출장폭스나인
    출장스웨디시

    ReplyDelete
  31. I am highly grateful to you for sharing this wonderful blog post.

    ReplyDelete