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
Monday - October 28, 2013
From: Bethel, KY
Region: Select Region
Topic: Vines
Title: Identification of vine with seed cluster that looks like a 3D star
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I found a weird vine on the creek bank with seed clusters that look like a 3D star they also have hair like thorns on them.ANSWER:
I think the most likely candidate is Sicyos angulatus (One-seed burr cucumber). Here are more photos from Illinois Wildflowers and University of Massachusetts Extension Service.
Another possibility is one of the Clematis species:
Clematis pitcheri (Purple clematis)
Clematis reticulata (Netleaf leather flower) Here are images from the USDA Plants Database.
Clematis virginiana (Devil's darning needles) Here are more photos from the Connecticut Botanical Society.
You can look at other native vines that occur in Kentucky by doing a COMBINATION SEARCH in our Native Plant Database and choosing "Kentucky" from Select State or Province and "Vine" under Habit (general appearance).
If you don't discover the vine that you have seen in any of these possibilities and you have photos, please visit our Plant Identification page where you will find links to several plant identification forums that will accept photos of plants for identification.
From the Image Gallery
More Vines Questions
Non-blooming of Campsis radicans, Trumpet Vine
August 25, 2006 - I have a trumpet vine that does not bloom. My neighbor has the same plant and it blooms profusely. I have pruned the vine in February as was suggested on another site. It is healthy and is planted a...
view the full question and answer
Climbing options for a Coral honeysuckle in Austin Texas
April 16, 2013 - Regarding Coral honeysuckle, what is the best support to encourage continued spread, chicken-wire/fencing? Currently the plants and vines are on fencing and beginning to fold over. I'd like to add...
view the full question and answer
Identification of thorny vine in Michigan
May 21, 2013 - We have a species growing around our rural SW Michigan property that I'm trying to identify: I either see stalks up to 3 ft tall, or much longer vines if they find anchor. The most notable characte...
view the full question and answer
Plant identification of vine in Tennessee
January 06, 2012 - I have this vine that grows in my backyard and on the vine there are green balls about half the size of a hedge apple and inside balls are a bunch of seeds. The deer love to eat these. Do you know wha...
view the full question and answer
Plants to cover rock wall in Pennsylvania
July 10, 2008 - Please recommend plants that I could use to plant on the (full sun) slightly sloped ground space above a 3 foot high, 20 foot long unattractive stone wall that would grow over and down to cover the wa...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |