Types of Vines
Composite Flower Family
Composite Flower Family
Groundsel, common name for one of the largest categories of flowering plants. Approximately 2,000 to 3,000 species of groundsels are distributed throughout the world. Member of the large composite flowers family, the groundsel group is diverse as well as large; it includes vines, shrubs, and herbs adapted to both wet and dry regions. Ancient Greek and Arab physicians used the leaves of many groundsels to draw fluids from wounds; the name groundsel comes from the Anglo-Saxon gundeswelge, which means “pus absorber.”
Scientific classification: The groundsels belong to the family Asteraceae (formerly Compositae). The candle plant is classified as Senecio articulatus, dusty miller as Senecio cineraria, golden ragwort as Senecio aureus, and common groundsel as Senecio vulgaris.
Ironweed, common name for any of approximately 750 species of perennial plants (plants that live at least three years) that include trees, shrubs, climbing woody vines, and herbs (plants with soft, non-woody stems), members of the composite flowers family. Ironweed is named for its normally stiff, hard stem. They are native to the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Australia. Most grow in tropical regions, although some are found in the temperate zones. Ironweeds are easily cultivated in fertile soil and may be grown as garden plants, especially in informal or wildflower gardens.
Scientific classification: Ironweeds make up the genus Vernonia, named for 17th century botanist William Vernon, and belong to the family Asteraceae (formerly Compositae). Tall ironweed is classified as Vernonia altissima, western ironweed as Vernonia baldwinii, and New York ironweed as Vernonia noveboracensis.
Figwort Family
Bignonia, common name for a medium-sized family of mostly tropical woody climbers, and for the only member of its representative genus, the cross vine. The showy flowers of the bignonias exhibit many features of the order to which the family belongs (see Figwort). The tubular calyx (group of fused sepals) has five lobes, and the corolla (group of fused petals) is funnel-shaped with two or four stamens attached to the inside surface. The long, tubular flowers show adaptations to pollination by a variety of flying animals, including insects, birds, and bats, although each species is usually visited by one or a few specific pollinators.
Scientific classification: Bignonias make up the family Bignoniaceae of the order Scrophulariales. The cross vine is classified as Bignonia capreolata and the calabash tree as Crescentia cujete. Jacarandas are classified in the genus Jacaranda. The sausage tree is classified as Kigelia pinnata. Trumpet vines are classified in the genus Campsis and catalpas in the genus Catalpa. The desert willow is classified as Chilopsis linearis.
Ginseng Family
Ivy, common name for any of a genus of woody vines of the ginseng family. The genus is native to temperate regions of the eastern hemisphere. Ivy plants produce two kinds of leaves during the climbing phase. The leaves have three to five distinct lobes, but during the flowering stage they usually have three indistinct lobes or may even be lobeless. The flowers, borne in terminal umbels, have a five-parted calyx, five-parted corolla, five stamens, and a single pistil. The fruit is a smooth berry that contains a poisonous glucoside. The plant's adventitious rootlets attach to trees or bare walls.
Ground ivy is a small, creeping member of the mint family. Poison ivy (see Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, and Poison Sumac) belongs to the cashew family.
Scientific classification: Ivies make up the genus Hedera of the family Araliaceae. English ivy is classified as Hedera helix; African ivy, or Algerian ivy, as Hedera canariensis; and Asian ivy as Hedera colchica. American ivy, classified as Parthenocissus quinquefolia, and Boston ivy, classified as Parthenocissus tricuspidata, belong to the family Vitaceae. Ground ivy belongs to the family Lamiaceae (formerly Labiatae) and is classified as Glechoma hederacea. Poison ivy belongs to the family Anacardaceae and is classified as Toxicodendron radicans.
Groundsel, common name for one of the largest categories of flowering plants. Approximately 2,000 to 3,000 species of groundsels are distributed throughout the world. Member of the large composite flowers family, the groundsel group is diverse as well as large; it includes vines, shrubs, and herbs adapted to both wet and dry regions. Ancient Greek and Arab physicians used the leaves of many groundsels to draw fluids from wounds; the name groundsel comes from the Anglo-Saxon gundeswelge, which means “pus absorber.”
Scientific classification: The groundsels belong to the family Asteraceae (formerly Compositae). The candle plant is classified as Senecio articulatus, dusty miller as Senecio cineraria, golden ragwort as Senecio aureus, and common groundsel as Senecio vulgaris.
Ironweed, common name for any of approximately 750 species of perennial plants (plants that live at least three years) that include trees, shrubs, climbing woody vines, and herbs (plants with soft, non-woody stems), members of the composite flowers family. Ironweed is named for its normally stiff, hard stem. They are native to the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Australia. Most grow in tropical regions, although some are found in the temperate zones. Ironweeds are easily cultivated in fertile soil and may be grown as garden plants, especially in informal or wildflower gardens.
Scientific classification: Ironweeds make up the genus Vernonia, named for 17th century botanist William Vernon, and belong to the family Asteraceae (formerly Compositae). Tall ironweed is classified as Vernonia altissima, western ironweed as Vernonia baldwinii, and New York ironweed as Vernonia noveboracensis.
Figwort Family
Bignonia, common name for a medium-sized family of mostly tropical woody climbers, and for the only member of its representative genus, the cross vine. The showy flowers of the bignonias exhibit many features of the order to which the family belongs (see Figwort). The tubular calyx (group of fused sepals) has five lobes, and the corolla (group of fused petals) is funnel-shaped with two or four stamens attached to the inside surface. The long, tubular flowers show adaptations to pollination by a variety of flying animals, including insects, birds, and bats, although each species is usually visited by one or a few specific pollinators.
Scientific classification: Bignonias make up the family Bignoniaceae of the order Scrophulariales. The cross vine is classified as Bignonia capreolata and the calabash tree as Crescentia cujete. Jacarandas are classified in the genus Jacaranda. The sausage tree is classified as Kigelia pinnata. Trumpet vines are classified in the genus Campsis and catalpas in the genus Catalpa. The desert willow is classified as Chilopsis linearis.
Ginseng Family
Ivy, common name for any of a genus of woody vines of the ginseng family. The genus is native to temperate regions of the eastern hemisphere. Ivy plants produce two kinds of leaves during the climbing phase. The leaves have three to five distinct lobes, but during the flowering stage they usually have three indistinct lobes or may even be lobeless. The flowers, borne in terminal umbels, have a five-parted calyx, five-parted corolla, five stamens, and a single pistil. The fruit is a smooth berry that contains a poisonous glucoside. The plant's adventitious rootlets attach to trees or bare walls.Ground ivy is a small, creeping member of the mint family. Poison ivy (see Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, and Poison Sumac) belongs to the cashew family.
Scientific classification: Ivies make up the genus Hedera of the family Araliaceae. English ivy is classified as Hedera helix; African ivy, or Algerian ivy, as Hedera canariensis; and Asian ivy as Hedera colchica. American ivy, classified as Parthenocissus quinquefolia, and Boston ivy, classified as Parthenocissus tricuspidata, belong to the family Vitaceae. Ground ivy belongs to the family Lamiaceae (formerly Labiatae) and is classified as Glechoma hederacea. Poison ivy belongs to the family Anacardaceae and is classified as Toxicodendron radicans.
