Climbing dogbane facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Climbing dogbane |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Thyrsanthella
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| Species: |
difformis
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| Synonyms | |
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Trachelospermum difforme (Walter) A.Gray |
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Thyrsanthella difformis, also known as the climbing dogbane, is a cool flowering plant. It belongs to the dogbane family. This plant is a woody vine that loses its leaves in winter. You can find it mostly in the southeastern United States. It often grows in wet places, but not always.
Contents
What is Climbing Dogbane?
The climbing dogbane is a type of vine. It is a woody plant that grows low to the ground. It also twines, meaning it wraps itself around other plants or objects. This plant loses its leaves every year, usually in the fall.
Leaves and Flowers
Its leaves grow in pairs, one across from the other. They have smooth edges and a pointed tip. The shape of the leaves can change a lot, which is interesting!
The plant has white or creamy yellow flowers. These flowers are small, about 3 to 4 millimeters long. They usually bloom from May to July.
Fruit
After the flowers, the plant grows reddish fruits. These fruits are called follicles. They are long and thin, like a bean pod. Each one can be 10 to 25 centimeters long. The fruits usually appear from July through September.
How to Identify Climbing Dogbane
Sometimes, it can be tricky to tell the climbing dogbane apart from other plants. This is because its leaves can look very different. For example, a narrow-leaf form might confuse you.
Similar Plants
You might confuse it with other vines like trumpet honeysuckle. Or it could look like Carolina jessamine. There is also an introduced plant called Japanese honeysuckle that looks similar.
The Milky Sap Test
But there's a secret way to tell them apart! If you break a stem or tear a leaf, look closely. Only the climbing dogbane will ooze a milky white sap. This sap comes from the broken stem or the middle vein of a torn leaf.
You can also tell it apart from Confederate jasmine. Confederate jasmine used to be in the same plant family. But the climbing dogbane has simple, pale yellow flowers. Confederate jasmine has showy, bright white flowers.
The Science Behind Its Name
For a long time, scientists thought this plant belonged to the Trachelospermum group. But new studies changed that idea. Scientists looked closely at its DNA and physical features. They found that it was different enough to have its own group.
Its Own Genus
Now, it is in its own special group called Thyrsanthella. This group has only one species in it, which is the climbing dogbane. The second part of its name, difformis, means "variable shape." This name fits perfectly because of its changing leaf shapes!
Is It Safe?
It's important to know that all parts of this plant are poisonous. If someone eats any part of it, it can be harmful. So, it's best to look at it but not touch or taste it.
