Photo by Linda Lee “Wait a minute, I’m caught.” You hear this expression frequently when threading through a stickery thicket of this mystery plant. That gives us a logical common name for this group of plants: the “wait–a–minute vines.” Blaspheme–vine is another name, usually saved for the species forming the baddest, meanest, most prickly patches.

This plant comes from a very familiar group of species related to the lily family. Counted together as a genus, there are nearly 400 species worldwide, mostly in the tropics, but about 20 get well into temperate North America. These species may be evergreen or deciduous, woody or herbaceous, and most of them are vines. Some species are densely armed with prickles, while others are smooth and sticker–free. A number of these have medicinal value, and one (from Central America) is the original source of the herbal remedy sarsaparilla.

Chickweed, Stellaria media Our mystery plant is widespread in eastern North America from New England into the Great Plains and down through all the southern states. It is no shrinking violet. It is tough as nails, usually well–armed with stout prickles. The woody vines arise from hard, knotty rhizomes and often climb high into trees or over shrubbery. Thin tendrils at the leaf bases make this possible.

Its tender foliage appears in the spring becoming tough and leathery as the leaves age. Being deciduous, the leaves fall away, although sometimes slowly. Even at this time of year, a plant may hold onto its brilliant red leaves. The early–summer flowers are small and green–yellow, individually star–shaped, and somewhat smelly. Berries are formed, first green, then attractively shiny and purplish–black, prized as food for a number of wildlife species.

Because of its thorny nature and tendency to climb and form thickets, this species, and most of its near relatives, are usually unwelcome in gardens and around houses. On the other hand, in places where it can grow freely, it provides plenty of fall color foliage and fruits and is a good source of food and cover for the birds and critters.

Answer to last week’s

Mystery Plant