Overview
Comprehensive Description
Description
General: Bignonia family (Bignoniaceae). Crossvine is a perennial, woody, semi-evergreen vine that can grow to be 17 m long. Tubers can grow to 10 cm in diameter. The stem is squarish and reddish-purple. Leaves are opposite, pinnately compound, and reduced to two basal leaflets and a branched tendril between them. Leaflets are 6-15 cm long, 2-7 cm wide and have smooth edges (entire), narrowly tapered tips (acuminate), and a notch at the base that makes them heart-shaped (cordate). The foliage turns from a lustrous green in the growing season to a reddish purple in the winter. Buds are reddish-purple and less than 1 cm long. Flowers are bell-shaped with orange on the outside and yellow inside, have 5 irregular lobes, and are 4-5 cm long. The fruit is a multi-seeded, flat capsule that is up to 15 cm long. Crossvine blooms from mid-March to mid-June and sets fruit in late summer.
Crossvine gets its name from the cross-shaped pith, as seen from a transverse section of the stem. Other key characteristics of crossvine include its opposite compound leaves with two leaflets and branched tendrils.
Distribution: Crossvine is native to the United States in the northeastern, north central, south central, and southeastern regions. It is found from southern Ontario, south to Florida, west to Texas and Illinois. For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site (http://plants.usda.gov).
Habitat: Crossvine is found in rich forests and swamps and along roadsides and fencerows.
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Alternative names
Anisostichus capreolata, Anisostichus crucigera, Bignonia capreolata forma lutea, Bignonia capreolata var. atrosanguinea, Doxantha capreolata, quartervine, trumpet flower.
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Distribution
Localities documented in Tropicos sources
United States (North America)
Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.
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Small, J. K. 1933. Man. S.E. Fl. i–xxii, 1–1554. Published by the Author, New York.
http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1515
© Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63110 USA
Source:
Missouri Botanical Garden
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Localities documented in Tropicos sources
United States (North America)
Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.
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Gleason, H. A. 1968. The Sympetalous Dicotyledoneae. vol. 3. 596 pp. In H. A. Gleason Ill. Fl. N. U.S. (ed. 3). New York Botanical Garden, New York.
http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1707
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Radford, A. E., H. E. Ahles & C. R. Bell. 1968. Man. Vasc. Fl. Carolinas i–lxi, 1–1183. University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill.
http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/636
© Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63110 USA
Source:
Missouri Botanical Garden
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Localities documented in Tropicos sources
Bolivia (South America)
United States (North America)
Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.
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SPECIMEN BASED RECORD. Published protolog data.
http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/9990002
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Foster, R. C. 1958. A catalogue of the ferns and flowering plants of Bolivia. Contr. Gray Herb. 184: 1–223.
http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1313
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Long, R. W. & O. K. Lakela. 1971. Fl. Trop. Florida i–xvii, 1–962. University of Miami Press, Coral Cables.
http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1506
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Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston. 1970. Man. Vasc. Pl. Texas i–xv, 1–1881. The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson.
http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1493
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Fernald, M. 1950. Manual (ed. 8) i–lxiv, 1–1632. American Book Co., New York.
http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1327
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Godfrey, R. K. & J. W. Wooten. 1981. Aquatic Wetland Pl. S.E. U.S. Dicot. 933 pp. Univ. Georgia Press, Athens.
http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1711
© Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63110 USA
Source:
Missouri Botanical Garden
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National Distribution
United States
Origin: Native
Regularity: Regularly occurring
Currently: Present
Confidence: Confident
Type of Residency: Year-round
© NatureServe
Source:
NatureServe
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Adaptation
The USDA hardiness zones for crossvine are 5-9. Although it is semi-evergreen, it may lose its leaves during especially harsh winters in zones 5 and 6.
Crossvine prefers full sun and moist, acidic, well-drained soils for best flowering. It is adaptable to other soil conditions, including poorly drained soils, once established and it can do well in low light levels. It is drought tolerant.
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Conservation
Conservation Status
NatureServe Conservation Status
Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure
© NatureServe
Source:
NatureServe
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National NatureServe Conservation Status
United States
Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure
© NatureServe
Source:
NatureServe
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Status
Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status (e.g. threatened or endangered species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).
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Management
Cultivars, improved and selected materials (and area of origin)
The NRCS Plant Materials Program has not released any cultivars of crossvine for conservation use. Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil Conservation Service) office for more information. Look in the phone book under ”United States Government”. The Natural Resources Conservation Service will be listed under the subheading “Department of Agriculture.”
Ornamental cultivars of Bignonia capreolata include ‘Atrosanguinea,’ ‘Dragon Lady,’ ‘Helen Fredel,’ ‘Jekyll,’ ‘Shalimar Red,’ and ‘Tangerine Beauty.’ These cultivars have been bred for flower color, flower and leaf size, and winter hardiness.
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Seed production
Crossvine can be propagated by seeds or cuttings. Pretreatment of seeds is not necessary. Although a 90% germination rate can be expected, seedling survival and growth may be low. Seedlings may need to harden in winter temperatures before outplanting.
The species can be rooted at any time of the year but June or July cuttings are generally recommended. Crossvine cuttings root easily, but may take six to eight weeks.
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If not properly managed, crossvine can spread quickly by root suckers and become problematic. Pruning will reduce aggressive growth if spread is not desired.
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Weediness
Crossvine can spread aggressively. This plant may become weedy or invasive in some regions or habitats and may displace desirable vegetation if not properly managed. Please consult with your local NRCS Field Office, Cooperative Extension Service office, or state natural resource or agriculture department regarding its status and use.
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Relevance to Humans and Ecosystems
Benefits
Uses
Ethnobotanic: Native Americans used crossvine as a remedy for numerous health ailments. An infusion of leaves was used to purify blood. Decoctions of leaves were used for rheumatism. Decoctions of mashed bark were used to alleviate edema and headaches. Individuals with diphtheria gargled a mashed root infusion.
Ornamental: The showy, fragrant flowers and unique leaves of crossvine make this plant appropriate for some gardening and landscaping needs. It is often used as a cover for fences, arbors, walls, pillars or large trellises and as a groundcover. It is often recommended as a native ornamental alternative to non-native climbing vines.
Wildlife: The tubular flowers and large quantities of nectar produced by crossvine are attractants for hummingbirds and butterflies.
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Wikipedia
Bignonia capreolata
Bignonia capreolata is a vine commonly referred to as crossvine.[1] The common name refers to the cross-shaped pattern revealed when the stem is cut; this pattern results from four radial wedges of phloem embedded within the stem’s xylem.[2] It is native to the central and southern United States.[3] The vine climbs without twining but does produce tendrils. It produces long tubular flowers which are red and yellow and frequently have a mocha fragrance.[4] The leaves are dark green to almost purple and produced as opposite pairs with terminal tendrils. The vine often climbs very high, with leaves only remaining on the uppermost portion of the plant. Crossvine can spread aggressively through stolons and become invasive unless properly managed.[5]
There was for some time confusion surrounding the name of this plant, which was apparently sometimes referred to as "Bignonia Crucigera," a name more properly referring
to a different plant altogether. See Alwyn H. Gentry, Bignonia Crucigera: A Case of Mistaken Identity, Taxon 24(1): 121-123 (Feb. 1975), a relevant portion of which may be previewed here.
One 18th century report describes a medicinal use for cross-vine by the Cherokee people:
"The vines or climbing stems of the climber (Bigonia Crucigera) are equally divided longitudinally into four parts by the same number of their membranes somewhat resembling a piece of white tape by which means, when the vine is cut through and divided traversely, it presents to view the likeness of a cross. This membrane is of a sweet, pleasant taste. The country people of Carolina crop these vines to pieces, together with china brier ands sassafras roots, and boil them in their beer in the spring, for diet drink, in order to attenuate and purify the blood and juices, it is a principal ingredient in Howards famous infusion for curing the yaws, etc., the virtues and use of which he obtained from Indian Doctors."
William Bartram, Observations on the Creek and Cherokee Indians food traditions, in Transaction of the American Ethnological Society Vol. 3 Pt. 1. Extracts (1789).
References
- ^ Dirr, Michael. 1997. Dirr's Hardy trees and shrubs: an illustrated encyclopedia. Timber Press. 493 pages.
- ^ Metcalfe, C.R. and L. Chalk. 1950. Anatomy of the dicotyledons. Volume II. Oxford: Clarendon Press. (see page 1009).
- ^ USDA plant profile
- ^ Ask Melinda: Crossvine
- ^ USDA NRCS. Plant Guide. Crossvine: Bignonia capreolata L.
Source:
Wikipedia
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