Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Sunday - March 20, 2016
From: San Francisco , CA
Region: California
Topic: Plant Identification, Vines
Title: Identity of fast growing vine in San Francisco
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Really need to know what kind of vine is growing rapidly in the garden. Can't find out in plant identification: started to grow profusely after rainfall. Grows at rate of 6-8" per day (!). Has ivy-like leaves and numerous tendrils. Tiny white clustered blossoms every 12". I have tried to uproot small ones for propagating and it seems to descend into one long taproot. I want to propagate for fences in the area: lake Merced in San Francisco. Please respond when you can. Dan vojirANSWER:
This sounds like Marah fabaceus (California manroot). Here is more information from Santa Barbara City College, Pacific Bulb Society and from the California Native Plant Society. It does have large fleshy underground roots, some of them shaped vaguely like a human body.
There are several other species of manroot that occur in California, but Marah fabaceus is the most common one and it does occur in the San Francisco area according to the USDA Plants Database.
The other California species are:
Marah horridus (Sierra manroot) occurs east and south of the San Francisco area. Here are photos and more information from iNaturalist.
Marah macrocarpus (Cucamonga manroot) occurs in Southern California. Here are photos and more information from Plants for a Future and from FloraFinder.
Marah oreganus (Coastal manroot) occurs in coastal areas from south of San Francisco and into Oregon, Washington and British Columbia. See the USDA Plants Database distribution map. Here are photos and more information from NWWildflowers and Washington Native Plant Society.
Marah watsonii (Taw manroot) occurs north and east of the San Francisco area. Here are photos from CalPhotos.Berkeley and photos and more information from AnExaminedLife.
From the Image Gallery
More Vines Questions
Identification of vine in New York
May 15, 2012 - I have a flowering vine that grows against my home and I'm not sure what it is, but it's beautiful with a delicate scent. The flowers look like clusters of mini purple pea pods hanging downward befo...
view the full question and answer
Identity of vining plants in yard in Texas
May 08, 2015 - I have vining plants in my back-yard, here when I bought the house, that, from what I have been able to find on-line, look like poison sumac, however, I know they are not. Leaf shape, color, and appe...
view the full question and answer
Sources for plants from Abingdon MD
August 02, 2012 - What stores or nursuries in Harford County sell already grown Coral honeysuckle, Purple passion flower, trumpet creeper, and crossvine?
view the full question and answer
Evergreen vine for Austin
June 21, 2009 - In addition to coral honeysuckle, carolina jasmine, and crossvine can you recommend any other fairly hardy, evergreen vines that will do well draping from the top of a wall in Austin, Texas. Exposure ...
view the full question and answer
Why won't my Campsis cultivar flower in Lowell MA
February 08, 2010 - I bought a Campsis trumpet vine cultivar in 2006 and planted near my fence in my yard hoping to cover the fence with the vine. Well 4 seasons later the vine has grown about 5 ft. in area but has yet ...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |