FAMILY: BIGNONIACEAE
ALTERNATE COMMON NAME: smoke vine
LEAVES: opposite, bifoliate-compound, persistent in southern range; 2 leaflets on older plants, one leaflet on young plants; leaflets oblong, margins wavy; bases cordate-auriculate; stipule-like leaves in axils
FLOWER: axillary, clusters of 2-5 tubular flowers; corolla up to 2”, 5 lobes; red-orange outside, yellow inside, fragrant (smells like Bit-O-Honey candy)
FRUIT: flat a capsule 4-8 inches long, containsing many flat, winged seeds
TWIGS: cross-shaped pith caused by 4 prominent pith rays
FORM: high-climbing woody vine climbing by branched tendrils with adhesive disks
HABITAT: a wide variety of moist sites, including bottomland hardwoods, fence rows, bayhead swamps, and mesic upland forests
WETLAND DESIGNATION: Facultative (FAC): Occurs in wetlands or non-wetlands of the Atlantic and Gulf Coast Plain Region
RANGE: broadly southeastern US, north to IL, IN OH. [MAP] [Map Color Key]
USES: ornamental; stems reportedly smoked like cigars in some localities
WILDLIFE: commonly browsed by deer in fall and winter
Best Recognition Features:
- high climbing, woody vine, evergreen in our region
- leaves opposite, compound, 2 leaflets with auriculate bases
- branched tendrils with adhesive disks
- tubular red-orange and yellow flowers, fragrance like Bit-O-Honey candy; flattened capsule 4-8” long
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