Climbers & Creepers in the Assiniboine Forest

This page is mainly about plants which climb by the use of tendrils.  A tendril is a specialized stem, leaf or petiole with a threadlike shape used by climbing plants for support and attachment.  In general, the term creeper is used somewhat synonymously with the term climber, as in the name Virginia Creeper.  Here though, I am using creeper in a different sense, to include certain (not all) ground-cover plants which spread through the use of runners (stolons). 

Bold Italic headings indicate species not listed on the Habitat Site Report.  

Vetches and Vetchlings
The Grape Family
     Virginia Creeper
     Fox Grape
     Summer Grape
Other Climbers
Creepers
More
     Unidentified
     A Curiosity
     Click on Images to Enlarge

Vetches and Vetchlings

We begin with vetches, milkvetches, and vetchlings - members of the legume family common in the Assiniboine Forest.  Not all vetches are climbers - see also (ordinary) Purple Milkvetch under Wildflowers.

Ascending Purple Milkvetch

Astragalus adsurgens var. robustior
Native Perennial, also known as Prairie Milkvetch, Laxmann's Milkvetch, Rattle Milkvetch

Ascending Purple Milkvetch is distinguished from Purple Milkvetch by its narrow leaves and by its tendrils.

Flowers with a cluster of pea pods.

Tufted Vetch

Vicia cracca
Introduced Perennial, also known as Cow Vetch, Bird Vetch, Blue Vetch, Boreal Vetch

An early July photo showing Tufted Vetch dominating the colours in the Tall Grass Prairie Reclamation Area along the Harte Trail.
 
Tufted Vetch resembles Ascending Purple Milkvetch closely, but its flowers are clustered on elongated racemes.
 



Pale Vetchling

Lathyrus ochroleucus
Native Perennial, also known as Cream-Coloured Vetchling, Cream Pea, Pale Pea, Cream Peavine




The Grape Family

Virginia Creeper

Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Native Perennial, also known as Five-Leaved Ivy, Five Finger, Victoria Creeper

 




Fox Grape

Vitis vulpina
Introduced Perennial, also known as Wild Grape, Frost Grape, Winter Grape 



Summer Grape

Vitis vulpina
Introduced Perennial, also known as Pigeon Grape 







Other Climbers

Twining Honeysuckle

Lonicera dioica
Native Perennial, also known as Limber Honeysuckle, Glaucous Honeysuckle

The flowers of this plant seem to vary from white through yellow to orange.  Older flowers sometimes turn red.  More photos are shown on the Shrubs page.
 
This Tartarian Honeysuckle tendril has wrapped itself around the stalk of a nearby shrub.
 



Hedge Bindweed (Wild Morning Glory)

Convolvulus sepium
Native Perennial, also known Wild Morning Glory, Bugle Vine, Heavenly Trumpets, Bellbind



The first two photos are from the Harte Trail.

Wild Cucumber

Echinocystis lobata
Native Annual, also known Prickly Cucumber



Creepers

Small-Leaf Pussytoes

Antennaria parvifolia
Native Perennial, also known Nuttal's Pussytoes


This native perennial forms mats on the ground, and could be considered a creeper.  This specimen may never flower, because it's located in a grassy area which is kept well-mowed.

More

Unidentified

A forest climber with 3 leaflets

A Curiosity

A climbing Vetch with a very atypical flower?  Nope, just a dandelion hanging around on Vetch Street.


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