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Native Plant Database

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Berchemia scandens (Alabama supple-jack)
Marcus, Joseph A.

Berchemia scandens (Hill) K. Koch

Alabama supple-jack, Alabama supplejack, Rattan-vine

Rhamnaceae (Buckthorn Family)

USDA Symbol: besc

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

A climbing vine with distinctive smooth, green bark on stems as much as 1 inch in diameter. Climbing into trees in wooded ravines and narrow canyons. Leaves from 1 to 2 1/2 inches long, with prominent veins branching from the midrib, ovate to elliptical with smooth or slightly wavy margins and a rounded or pointed tip. Flowers small, less than 1/8 inch wide, in elongate, open clusters on short lateral branchlets, appearing in April and May. Fruit small fleshy, blue black, longer than wide and slightly flattened.

The Rattan Vine is a member of the buckthorn family (family Rhamnaceae) which includes shrubs, trees, and vines, usually with small flowers in clusters.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Vine
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Elliptic
Leaf Venation: Pinnate
Leaf Margin: Entire , Serrate
Size Notes: 20-50 feet
Flower:
Fruit: Blue. 1/4 inch across.
Size Class: 12-36 ft. , 36-72 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Green
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , FL , GA , IL , KY , LA , MD , MO , MS , NC , OK , SC , TN , TX , VA
Native Habitat: Forest or natural area in open woods, along stream banks.
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil pH: Acidic (pH<6.8)

Benefit

Use Wildlife: Fruits eaten by wild turkey, northern bobwhite, raccoon and gray squirrel.
Interesting Foliage: yes

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Pineywoods Native Plant Center - Nacogdoches, TX
Brackenridge Field Laboratory - Austin, TX
Stengl Biological Research Station - Smithville, TX

Wildflower Center Seed Bank

LBJWC-MM-798 Collected 2010-12-18 in Harrison County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Bibliography

Bibref 841 - Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.

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Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Berchemia scandens in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Berchemia scandens in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Berchemia scandens

Metadata

Record Modified: 2007-08-31
Research By: TWC Staff

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