Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Sunday - June 21, 2015
From: Orleans, LA
Region: Southeast
Topic: Plant Identification, Vines
Title: Vine with 5 pointed deep lobed leaves and small white flowers
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I recently happened upon a very peculiar vine. It has 5 pointed very deep lobed leaves, that are semi hairy on both the top and bottom with small white flowers that emerge from the same part of the stem as the leaves. I've never seen anything like it.ANSWER:
This sounds a bit like Vitis mustangensis (Mustang grape). Its leaves can have a variable shape but certainly some of them have 5 five deeply lobed parts and they do have hairs on both surfaces, especially the bottom. Here are more photos from The University of Texas and from USDA Plants Database.
Here are other possibilities:
Humulus japonicus (Japanese hops) is an invasive vine from Asia. Here are more photos and information from Virginia Tech Weed Identification Guide.
Cayaponia quinqueloba (Melon-leaf cucumber) is native and here are more photos from Native & Naturalized Plants of the Carolinas & Georgia and the USDA Plants Database.
If none of these are the plant you found and you have photos, please visit our Plant Identification page to find links to plant identification forums that will accept photos of plants for identification.
From the Image Gallery
More Vines Questions
Identification of a vine with 3 leaves and a red trunk
January 02, 2014 - What is a vine with 3 leaves that has a red trunk?
view the full question and answer
Grape Vines and spacing for Portland, OR
September 10, 2009 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants,
I have a somewhat small south-facing yard next to my home (less than 8' wide). I would like to build a tall arbor for grapes that runs along the length of my home (about 4...
view the full question and answer
Controlling Passionflora Incarnata propagation
March 20, 2012 - Would a cinderblock raised bed, 8 inches in height, be sufficient to contain the roots of passiflora incarnata and keep them from traveling to places where I don't want the vine? Are the roots deepe...
view the full question and answer
Evergreen vine for wall and long-blooming shrubs in San Antonio TX
May 04, 2014 - What is a good native vine that stays green all year to plant along a rock courtyard wall? Also what are native bushes that flower for the longest period of time? Thanks.
view the full question and answer
Transplanting trumpet creeper in Prairie City, IA
August 22, 2011 - I have a Trumpet Creeper that I would like to transplant. How do you do that?
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |