Menispermum canadense: Uses (Ethnobotany)
Used by many people groups for a variety of medicinal uses, particularly by the Cherokee
Plant Profile: Menispermum canadense
Taxonomy: Menispermum canadenseNames
Canada Moonseed, Canadian Moonseed, Common Moonseed, Yellow Parilla
Phonetic Spelling:men-ih-SPER-mum ka-na-DEN-say
Genus:Menispermum
Species:canadense
Family:Menispermaceae
Menispermum canadense is a dioecious, woody vine that twines and scrambles without the aid of tendrils, often reaching lengths of 8 to 20 feet as it weaves through surrounding plants. In the absence of support, it can extend indefinitely along the ground, creating a thick ground cover that can rise up to 12 inches in height.
Menispermum canadense Feature Summary
Menispermum canadense Image Gallery
Tags
#poisonous
#NC native
#vines
#food source summer
#food source fall
#food source herbage
#food source nectar
#food source pollen
#bird friendly
#mammals
#food source soft mast fruit
#insects
#Piedmont Mountains FACU
#Coastal FACU
#audubon
Similar Plants
Menispermum canadense Feature Summary
Attributes
Used by many people groups for a variety of medicinal uses, particularly by the Cherokee
South Central & South East Canada to North East Mexico
Forest or natural areas, in moist woods
The caterpillars of Plusiodonta compressipalpis (Moonseed Moth) sever the leaves of this vine, feeding on them after they become dry. The larvae of a long-horned beetle, Hyperplatys aspersa, bore through its wood, where they are found underneath the bark. Both the roots and foliage are toxic to mammalian herbivores.
Perennial
Woody
Twining
Fruit
Mature drupes grow in grape-like clusters and become bluish black with a whitish bloom from July to October. Each fruit contains a single crescent-shaped seed, lending the plant its name. Their flavor is rank and unpleasant.
Drupe
Black
Blue
Summer
Fall
< 1 inch
< 1 inch
Flowers
Occasionally, panicles of whitish to yellowish green flowers are produced along the non-woody stems. These panicles are up to 5" long and sometimes irregular in shape; they hang downward from the stems of this vine on long stalks. Grows separate male and female flowers. Blooms from May to August.
White
Green
Panicle
Spring
Summer
3-6 inches
Leaves
The leaves are alternate, simple, long-stalked, palmately lobed with shallow with rounded lobes.
Deciduous
Green
Simple
Alternate
Obovate
Entire
Lobed
Undulate
Stem
Young stems are green to brownish red and slightly hairy, while older stems become hairless and woody.
Brown/Copper
Poisonous to Humans
HIGHLY TOXIC, MAY BE FATAL IF EATEN! Causes convulsions.
Alkaloid dauricine
High
Leaves
Flowers
Fruits
Roots
Whole Plant Traits
Native Plant
Poisonous
Vine
Deciduous
Cultural Conditions
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Moist
Occasionally Wet
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
Loam (Silt)
Landscape
Native Garden
Woodland
Naturalized Area
Songbirds
Small Mammals
Predatory Insects
Poisonous to Humans
Menispermum canadense Image Gallery
Menispermum canadense Attributes
Menispermum canadense: Country Or Region Of Origin
South Central & South East Canada to North East Mexico
Menispermum canadense: Distribution
Forest or natural areas, in moist woods
Menispermum canadense: Wildlife Value
The caterpillars of Plusiodonta compressipalpis (Moonseed Moth) sever the leaves of this vine, feeding on them after they become dry. The larvae of a long-horned beetle, Hyperplatys aspersa, bore through its wood, where they are found underneath the bark. Both the roots and foliage are toxic to mammalian herbivores.
Menispermum canadense: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Menispermum canadense: Climbing Method
Clinging
Scrambler
Tendrils
Twining
Menispermum canadense Fruit
Menispermum canadense: Fruit Description
Mature drupes grow in grape-like clusters and become bluish black with a whitish bloom from July to October. Each fruit contains a single crescent-shaped seed, lending the plant its name. Their flavor is rank and unpleasant.
Menispermum canadense: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Menispermum canadense: Fruit Color
Black
Blue
Menispermum canadense: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Menispermum canadense: Fruit Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Menispermum canadense: Fruit Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Menispermum canadense Flowers
Menispermum canadense: Flower Description
Occasionally, panicles of whitish to yellowish green flowers are produced along the non-woody stems. These panicles are up to 5" long and sometimes irregular in shape; they hang downward from the stems of this vine on long stalks. Grows separate male and female flowers. Blooms from May to August.
Menispermum canadense: Flower Color
Green
White
Menispermum canadense: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Menispermum canadense: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Menispermum canadense: Flower Size
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches
Menispermum canadense Leaves
Menispermum canadense: Leaf Description
The leaves are alternate, simple, long-stalked, palmately lobed with shallow with rounded lobes.
Menispermum canadense: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Menispermum canadense: Leaf Color
Green
Menispermum canadense: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Menispermum canadense: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Menispermum canadense: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Menispermum canadense: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Menispermum canadense: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Menispermum canadense Stem
Menispermum canadense: Stem Description
Young stems are green to brownish red and slightly hairy, while older stems become hairless and woody.
Menispermum canadense: Stem Color
Brown/Copper
Menispermum canadense: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Menispermum canadense Poisonous to Humans
Menispermum canadense: Poison Symptoms
HIGHLY TOXIC, MAY BE FATAL IF EATEN! Causes convulsions.
Menispermum canadense: Poison Toxic Principle
Alkaloid dauricine
Menispermum canadense: Poison Severity
High
Low
Medium
Menispermum canadense: Causes Contact Dermatitis
No
Yes
Menispermum canadense: Poison Part
Bark
Flowers
Fruits
Leaves
Roots
Sap/Juice
Seeds
Stems
Menispermum canadense Whole Plant Traits
Menispermum canadense: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Menispermum canadense: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Menispermum canadense Cultural Conditions
Menispermum canadense: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Menispermum canadense: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Menispermum canadense: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Menispermum canadense: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
Menispermum canadense: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Menispermum canadense Landscape
Menispermum canadense: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Menispermum canadense: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Menispermum canadense: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
Menispermum canadense: Problems
Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy
