Herbaceous Plants Trees & Shrubs

Family Cucurbitaceae Cayaponia (Cayaponia quinqueloba) 3-lobed leaves are finely hairy. Small white flowers replaced by reddish fruit.

One-seeded Bur Cucumber (Sicyos angulatus) Herbaceous vine with tendrils, angled stem. 5-lobed leaves are sticky and hairy. Whitish flowers followed by cluster of dry bristled fruit.

Family Fabaceae Butterfly Pea (Centrosema virginianum) A small delicate herbaceous vine growing up to 6 feet. 3 small leaflets. Small purple flowers. A leguminous plant so its fruit is a slender flattened pod of peas.

Downy Milk-pea (Galactia volubilis) Purple flowers grow on a plant that closely resembles both butterfly pea, except with different flowers, and beggar's ticks, except that milkpea is a vine. Because of this, it is easily overlooked and also difficult to key out. All have three oval-shaped leaflets and pink to purple flowers. Sometimes found in the escarpment area of the Acadiana Nature Park.

Family Liliaceae Greenbriar (Smilax sp.) Several species of herbaceous vines. Shiny, leathery, dark green leaves, shape varies by species. Occasional spines. Greenish flowers in summer, dark berries mature in fall and may be eaten by several birds including mockingbirds, catbirds, and fish crows. Rabbits and raccoons eat the leaves and young shoots, and beavers may dig up and eat the tubers. American Indians would treat muscle cramps or other pain by rubbing stem prickles on skin. They also used tea to treat rheumatism, stomach pain, boils, and more. Chemists have tested and confirmed the anti-inflammatory, cholesterol-lowering, and anti-stress properties of various species of Smilax.

Family Menispermaceae Carolina Moonseed (Cocculus carolinum) Evergreen vine with poisonous grape-like fruit clusters. Vine is herbaceous above, woody at base. Several species eat the fruit from November to December including Eastern phoebe, mockingbird, brown thrasher, cedar waxwing, and white-throated sparrow.

Family Passifloraceae Passion Vine (Passiflora incarnata) Found in the escarpment area of the Acadiana Nature Station, in sunny spots. Its purple flowers have a whorl of fringe over the petals and a beautiful complex pattern of sepals, filaments, and anthers. The edible fruit are called "maypops," round yellow pods when ripe. Leaves are deeply three-lobed. Seeds inside the fruit pods are consumed by songbirds, and fritillary caterpillars eat the foliage.

Yellow Passion Vine (Passiflora lutea) Slender stem but high-climbing with tendrils. Broad leaves have 3 lobes. Summer-blooming small yellow flowers have fringe-like petals, a miniature pale version of the more famous Passiflora incarnata. Uncommon; found beside streams in thickets.