Nekemias arborea (L.) J. Wen & Boggan

Peppervine

Vine

Perennial

Vascular

Peppervine is a native woody vine in the Grape family (Vitaceae). It can be found throughout most of Alabama. Peppervine occurs in swamp forests, in low woods, along fence rows, and in disturbed habitats. It is a high climbing woody vine, climbing by tendrils. Young stems and leaves are often reddish or bronze in color. The leaves are alternate, bi- or tri-pinnately compound, glabrous, and deciduous. Leaflets are petiolulate, ovate to elliptic in outline, with serrate margins. Flowers are produced in cymes from the axils of the leaves. The flowers are greenish-yellow in color with a cup shaped calyx. Each flower has 5 small petals. The fruit is a black drupe. Peppervine is occasionally available from nurseries. It is sometimes used as a fast growing climber to obscure unsightly areas such as block walls, or as a ground cover. The fruit contain calcium oxalate crystals that irritate the mouth and throat when eaten. Severe reactions can cause the wind pipe to constrict leading to death. Birds readily feed on the fruit and nest in the dense cover of the vines. Peppervine is a fast grower and can spread aggressively in the garden.--A. Diamond

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Native FAC+ (NWPL)

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