Herbaceous Plants Trees & Shrubs

Family Polygonaceae Ladies’ Eardrops (Brunnichia cirrhosa) Finely grooved green to brown woody vine climbing with tendrils. Leaves are alternate, 2-6 in. long. The name probably comes from the small leathery fruit which resembles earrings.

Family Ranunculaceae
Curl Flower (Clematis crispa) Slender vine is herbaceous above; slightly woody near base. Climbs by twisting, elongated leaf petioles. Opposite, compound leaves have 2-5 pairs of leaflets. 1-2 inch bluish flowers that bloom in summer are fragrant and crinkled.

Family Rhamnaceae Supple Jack (Berchemia scandens); aka "rattan" or "black jack." High-climbing, woody, very thick vine. Leaves are small, oval, parallel-veined. Common, especially in bottomland/riparian habitats. Many species of birds enjoy the small oblong dark fruit, as well as raccoons and squirrels. American Indians used bark or leaf tea to restore youthful vigor. Burned stems were made into tea to treat a cough.

 

Family Vitaceae Pepper Vine (Ampelopsis arborea) This deciduous vine is found in sunny, disturbed sites. Grows in dense colonies. Slender vine climbing with forked tendrils. Leaves are compound, dark green when mature, toothed. Young leaves and stems are red. Tiny green to black fruit looks like peppercorns, but are not edible. Birds that have been observed eating berries in September include red-bellied woodpecker, veery, swainson’s thrush, brown thrasher, and cardinal. Raccoons also enjoy the fruit.Toothed leaves divided into five leaflets. Found throughout Louisiana, including cities. Possibly the most highly used (by the largest diversity of bird species as well) native plant species among fall-migrating fruit-eating birds in Louisiana. American Indians used leaf tea for jaundice, diarrhea, or to wash wounds as an astringent, but berries are toxic.

Pepper Vine (Ampelopsis cordata) Sometimes called "heart-leaf ampelopsis" because of its broad pointed leaves, which have serrated margins. Climbs with forked tendrils. Tiny bluish-green to red fruit is not edible to humans, but some birds like cardinals, brown thrashers, and flickers eat it.

Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) Toothed leaves divided into five leaflets. Found throughout Louisiana, including cities. Possibly the most highly used (by the largest diversity of bird species as well) native plant species among fall-migrating fruit-eating birds in Louisiana. American Indians used leaf tea for jaundice, diarrhea, or to wash wounds as an astringent, but berries are toxic.

Wild Grape (Vitis sp.)Over thirty species of birds use the various species of wild grapes in Louisiana. All have roughly heart-shaped, toothed, sometimes lobed leaves and forked tendrils. Vines are high-climbing, woody. Squirrels, raccoons, skunks, opossums, and skunks eat the fruit as well as songbirds.

Muscadine (Vitis rotundifolia) This kind of wild grape does not have the shreddy bark of most grapes. Unlike other wild grapes, muscadine has single, not forked, tendrils. Purplish black grapes maturing in late summer are edible and very tasty. Can climb 100 feet or higher.