Cocculus carolinus
Family: Menispermaceae
Description: High climbing deciduous, flowering, woody vine,semi-evergreen vine with ovate or triangular-ovate, often 3-lobed, leaves 2-9 cm long, sometimes heart‑shaped, dark green, 3–6 in long, alternate arrangement. Leaves with soft hair beneath. simple in structure, alternating along the stem. Twining stems allow the plant to climb. Flowers small, greenish in paniucled racemes, the sexes on separate plants. Tepals 1-2 mm long, creamy. Fruits red.
Field Identification:
Plant Trivia: The genus name comes from the Greek word kokkos meaning berry and the species name means from North or South Carolina.
Occurrence: Common along streams. Found in moist, rich woods, roadside thickets, rocky hillsides, limestone cliffs, and disturbed sites Native from northern Florida to Texas, north to North Carolina, Kentucky, and southern Illinois, and into parts of Mexico.
Bloom Period: May-Aug
Plant Use: Ornamental; fence cover. Food source for wildlife.
Dichotomous Key for the Genus Cocculus:
- Leaves with soft hair beneath…………..C. carolinus
Leaves glabrous……………………………..C. diversifolius
stxflora 