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Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Menispermum canadense (Common moonseed)
Smith, R.W.

Menispermum canadense

Menispermum canadense L.

Common Moonseed

Menispermaceae (Moonseed Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: MECA3

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

A climbing vine with small, greenish-white flowers in small loose clusters in axils of large leaves; each leafstalk attached just inside leaf’s edge.

The poisonous fruit of this plant ripens in September and resembles whitish-powdered grapes. The fruit is highly toxic, may be fatal if eaten.

 

From the Image Gallery

2 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Vine
Leaf Shape: Ovate , Reniform
Fruit Type: Drupe
Size Notes: Stems twining, up to about 15 feet long.
Fruit: Black

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Green , Brown
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , MA , MD , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , SC , SD , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV
Canada: MB , ON , QC
Native Habitat: Woodland edges, thickets, and streambanks.

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist

Benefit

Use Food: The fruit is highly toxic, may be fatal if eaten.
Warning: Plant poisonous. The fruit is highly toxic, may be fatal if eaten.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:AGCPAKAWCBEMPGPHIMWNCNEWMVE
Status: FACU FACU FACU FAC FAC
This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

Web Reference

Webref 3 - Flora of North America (2014) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.

Additional resources

USDA: Find Menispermum canadense in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Menispermum canadense in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Menispermum canadense

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-10-07
Research By: TWC Staff

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