Types of Vines

Betel, common name for a vine (see Pepper), and for its leaves. In tropical Asia and the East Indies the leaves, together with a little quicklime, are used to wrap the seed kernel (called betel nut or areca nut) of the betel palm. The chewing of this preparation (also called betel) stains the saliva bright red and eventually darkens the teeth. An alkaloid in the nut acts as a stimulant and a tonic.

Scientific classification: The betel belongs to the family Piperaceae. It is classified as Piper betle. The betel palm belongs to the family Arecaceae (formerly Palmae) and is classified as Areca catechu.


Bignonia Family
Trumpet Vine, also trumpet creeper, trumpet flower, or trumpet honeysuckle, common name for either of two species of woody vines with brilliant trumpet-shaped flowers that bloom in summer. The common trumpet vine, a hardy plant that can survive temperatures as low as -34° C (-29° F), is native to North America and the Chinese trumpet vine is native to Asia.

Scientific classification: Trumpet vines belong to the bignonia family, Bignoniaceae. The common trumpet vine is classified as Campsis radicans (formerly Bignonia radicans) and the Chinese trumpet vine as Campsis grandiflora.

Birthwort, common name for a small family of flowering plants that are usually woody vines with medium to large, luridly colored, ill-smelling flowers. The family contains 7 genera and about 400 species, most of which occur in the Tropics, although some are found in temperate areas. The family is of little economic importance, although local medicinal use occurs; some members are grown only as curiosities.

Scientific classification: Birthwort is the common name for the family Aristolochiaceae. Dutchman's pipe, or pipevine, is classified as Aristolochia durior, pelican flower as Aristolochia grandiflora, and wild ginger as Asarum canadense.


Bittersweets

Celastrus scandens, also known as American bittersweet, belongs to a family of woody shrubs with climbing, twining vines and is grown for a variety of ornamental and practical uses. The plant's yellow flowers contain stunning, crimson-covered seeds. Certain species of bittersweet produce a fine-grained wood suitable for carving, while others provide tea, vegetable oils, dyes, and extracts for medicines.

Staff Tree, common name for a dicot (see Dicots) order comprising 12 families and about 2000 species of mostly tropical and subtropical trees, shrubs, and woody vines, and for some members of its typical genus (see Bittersweet). See also Holly.

Scientific classification: Staff trees make up the order Celastrales. The typical genus is Celastrus.

Bougainvillea, common name for flowering woody vines (see Four o'Clock), native to South America, and cultivated in the southern United States. Named for the French navigator Louis de Bougainville, the group includes about 13 species, several of which are widely cultivated as porch and arbor ornaments in warm climates and as hothouse plants in cool climates. The plant has small, inconspicuous flowers that are usually enclosed by three large showy bracts, or modified leaves; the bracts may be purple, red, orange, or white. The larger species grow to about 5 m (about 16 ft).

Scientific classification: Bougainvillea make up the genus Bougainvillea, of the family Nyctaginaceae.


Buckthorn Family
Buckthorn, common name for a family comprising about 875 species, in 53 genera, of mostly trees and shrubs, although some are climbers. The family is cosmopolitan in distribution. Many species exhibit adaptations to dry habitats, including small, crowded leaves; thorns and spines; and short branches. In addition to ornamentals, the family is important as a source of some medicines (see Cascara Sagrada). It is also an important source of natural green and yellow dyes and fruits (from the lotus tree, or jujube). The common buckthorn, sometimes cultivated in shrub borders, has large spines; small, oval leaves; and small white flower clusters. Its blue-black, pea-size berries are cathartic.

Scientific classification: Buckthorns make up the family Rhamnaceae, of the order Rhamnales. The common buckthorn is classified as Rhamnus cathartica. Two other families of the order are Vitaceae, containing the genera Vitis and Parthenocissus, and Leeaceae, containing the genus Leea.


Buckwheat Family
Smartweed, common name for a group of hardy, fast growing garden herbs widely distributed throughout northern temperate regions such as Europe and North America. The name comes from the acrid taste of the leaves, which stings the tongue and causes livestock to avoid the plants. Most smartweeds are perennials (plants that live for at least three years), some are woody vines, and a few are annuals (plants that live for only one year).

Scientific classification: Smartweeds are members of the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae. Mountain fleece is classified as Polygonum amplexicaule, Snakeweed as Polygonum bisorta, lace vine as Polygonum aubertii, and kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate as Polygonum orientale. Knotweed is classified as Polygonum aviculare, Pennsylvania smartweed as Polygonum pennsylvanicum, and wild buckwheat as Polygonum convolvulus. The botanical genus name, Polygonum, means “many knees” and refers to the swollen, bent nodes where the leaves join the stem.


Buttercup Family
Clematis, genus of plants of the buttercup family, having four or five sepals, no corolla, and numerous one-seeded fruits with long, feathery bristles. The species are numerous, consisting of herbs or shrubs with climbing stems; they are scattered over the temperate countries of the world and are fairly caustic. Many of the varieties are perennial vines, popular for covering fences and arbors. Woodbine and another species are small, white-flowered forms. Other species bear flowers attaining a diameter of up to 20 cm (up to 8 in) and ranging from white to blue or red. Several shrubby, herbaceous, nonclimbing forms are also cultivated.

Scientific classification: The genus Clematis belongs to the family Ranunculaceae. Woodbine is classified as Clematis virginiana, and the other species with small white flowers as Clematis paniculata.


Caper, common name for a family of herbs, trees, and some vines. The family contains about 45 genera and 800 species, which occur in tropical and subtropical areas, especially Africa and the Mediterranean region. Flowers are usually irregular, and some are showy. Although the number and arrangement of the flower parts are variable, the ovary (female flower part) is characteristically borne on a gynophore, an elongation of the floral tissue between the stamens and ovary, resulting in a distinctive stalked appearance of the mature ovary and fruit. The spider flower, a well-known garden annual, is a member of this family. The capers that are used as a seasoning or condiment are the pickled, unopened buds of the caper bush, a spiny shrub native to dry, rocky areas in the Mediterranean.

Scientific classification: Capers make up the family Capparaceae. The spider flower is classified as Cleome hassleriana. The caper bush is classified as Capparis spinosa.


Carrion Flower, common name for any of several related cactuslike desert herbs with flowers that have a putrid odor. The term is also used for a greenbrier climbing vine with flowers that smell like carrion.

Scientific classification: Carrion flowers make up the genus Stapelia of the family Asclepiadaceae. The greenbrier climbing vine belongs to the family Liliaceae. It is classified as Smilax herbacea.


Cinnamon Vines:
Yam
The water yam is a Southeast Asia species that is commonly cultivated. The Chinese yam, or Chinese potato, also known as cinnamon vine, is cultivated in the northern United States as an ornamental climbing vine; its thick tubers reach a length of about 1 m (about 3 ft). The air potato is native to South Asia; it bears white flowers and aerial tubers that attain a weight of several kilograms. The wild yam, native to the eastern United States, has rootstocks that are not enlarged. Yams are rarely cultivated in the United States; the few species grown are limited to Florida and several neighboring states. The name yam is commonly but incorrectly applied to varieties of the genus containing the sweet potatoes (see Sweet Potato).

Scientific classification: Yams make up the genus Dioscorea of the family Dioscoreaceae. The water yam is classified as Dioscorea alata; the Chinese yam, or Chinese potato, as Dioscorea batatas; the air potato as Dioscorea bulbifera; and the wild yam as Dioscorea villosa.

more vines..

related articles:
plants