Bryonia alba

Bryonia alba (white bryony, wild hop) is a vigorous vine in the family Cucurbitaceae (squashes and melons) from Europe and Northern Iran. It has a growth habit similar to Kudzu, which gives it a highly destructive potential outside its native range as a noxious weed. Other common names include false mandrake,English mandrake, wild vine, and wild hops, wild nep, tamus, ladies' seal, and tetterbury.

Description

An herbaceous, perennial vine of the cucumber family, white bryony is monoecious but diclinous (separate male and female flowers found on the same plant) with a tuberous yellow root. Greenish-white flowers are 1 cm (0.39 in) across. Long curling tendrils, flowers, and fruit all stem from axils of palmately lobed leaves. The fruit is a 1.5 cm (0.59 in) berry which blackens as it ripens.

Distribution

White bryony is native to Europe and Northern Iran. It has also been introduced to the United States, where it is listed as a noxious weed in Washington, Idaho, and Montana.

Ecology