Thyrsanthella_difformis

<i>Thyrsanthella</i>

Thyrsanthella

Genus of flowering plants

Thyrsanthella is a monotypic genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Apocynaceae. [1] Its only species, Thyrsanthella difformis, the climbing dogbane.[2] It is an uncommon to locally common deciduous low-growing woody vine native to the southeastern United States, found more often though not exclusively in moist habitats. [3] [4] [5] [6]

T. difformis leaves and flower, Chatham County NC, 16 June 2015

Quick Facts Thyrsanthella, Scientific classification ...
Thyrsanthella difformis flower

Description

Thyrsanthella difformis is a deciduous low-growing woody twining vine in the dogbane family. Its leaves are opposite, entire, acuminate, and have variable shape. White to creamy yellow flowers, lacking a corona, corolla lobes 3–4 mm long, appear May to July. Reddish fruit are follicles 10–25 cm long, 1–2 mm in diameter that appear July through September.[3][4]

Identification

The variable leaf shape may make identification challenging in some cases, particularly if the narrow-leaf form is first encountered. Also, T. difformis may be confused with trumpet honeysuckle, alien Japanese honeysuckle, or Carolina jessamine. Distinguish T. difformis in the field from these plants by observing that only T. difformis exudes milky sap from broken stems or the central vein of torn leaves. It may be distinguished from the alien confederate jasmine, formerly in the same genus, by the unassuming pale yellow flowers of the native species contrasting to the showy white flowers of the introduced vine.[3][4]

Taxonomy

This species was traditionally included in the genus Trachelospermum. Molecular and physical taxonomic evidence place it instead in the monospecific genus Thyrsanthella.[7] The specific name derives from the variable leaf shape.[3][4]

Toxicity

One source reports that all parts of this plant are poisonous if ingested.[8]

References

  1. [1]
    "Thyrsanthella (Baill.) Pichon | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  2. [2]
    USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Trachelospermum difforme". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  3. [3]
    Weakley, Alan S. (Nov 2012). Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States (PDF). Chapel Hill, NC, USA: The University of North Carolina Herbarium. p. 862. Retrieved 5 Oct 2014.
  4. [4]
    Will Cook. "Climbing Dogbane (Thyrsanthella difformis)". Will Cook. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
  5. [5]
    "Trachelospermum difforme (Walter) A. Gray". USDA. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
  6. [6]
    "Forsteronia difformis (Walt.) A. DC". Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
  7. [7]
    Livshultz, Tatyana; Middleton, David J.; Endress, Mary E.; Williams, Justin K. (July 2007). "Phylogeny of Apocynoideae and the APSA Clade (Apocynaceae s.l.)". Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden. 94 (2): 324–359. doi:10.3417/0026-6493(2007)94[324:POAATA]2.0.CO;2. JSTOR 40035747. S2CID 84692326. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  8. [8]
    "Climbing Dogbane Trachelospermum difforme". Dave's Garden. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
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