black swallow-wort

Vincetoxicum nigrum

Black swallow-wort is a climbing plant with dark green leaves and pretty flowers. It can grow in many places and is often found in gardens and fields, making it a lovely addition to nature.

Hábitat: Urban areas

Aspecto

The black swallow-wort is a twining perennial vine with slender stems and glossy, dark green oval leaves arranged in pairs. It has clusters of tiny, star-shaped flowers that are dark purple to nearly black, often appearing brownish-purple up close, making them distinct from other vines.

ReinoPlantaeFiloTracheophytaClaseMagnoliopsidaOrdenGentianalesFamiliaApocynaceaeGéneroVincetoxicum

black swallow-wort

Categoría

Plantas

Rareza

Common

Peligro

2/5 · Bajo

Snaps

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Datos interesantes

Even though it looks like milkweed, monarch butterfly caterpillars can't survive eating its toxic leaves!

Its seeds have feathery parachutes, like dandelions, allowing them to fly long distances in the wind!

One plant can make over 2,000 seeds in a year, helping it spread super fast!

This plant is nicknamed 'dog-strangling vine' because it can completely cover and choke out other plants!

Habilidades especiales

Black swallow-wort can rapidly climb and smother native vegetation, using its twining stems to outcompete other plants for sunlight and space.

Black swallow-wort has explosive seed pods that release hundreds of parachute-like seeds, helping it spread far and wide with the wind.

Black swallow-wort produces chemicals similar to milkweeds, tricking monarch butterflies into laying eggs, though their larvae cannot survive.

Medidas y detalles

Altura: 100-200 cm
Extensión: 50-150 cm
Tamaño de la flor: 0.5-0.8 cm
Temporada de floración: Verano
Comestible: No
Toxicidad: Alta
Ciclo de vida: Perenne
Método de polinización: Insectos

Conexiones ecológicas

eaten by

Monarch butterfly

Danaus plexippus

Larvae attempt to eat leaves, but cannot survive due to toxicity.

eats

Swallow-wort moth

Hypena opulenta

Larvae specifically feed on the plant, used as a biocontrol agent.

pollinates

House fly

Musca domestica

Visits flowers, aiding in pollination.

Rasgos

Trepador/Enredadera

Las plantas trepadoras o enredaderas se caracterizan por un hábito de crecimiento que les permite ascender enrollándose o usando zarcillos o raíces adhesivas.

Aromático

Las plantas aromáticas producen y emiten compuestos orgánicos volátiles fragantes, a menudo como defensa o para atraer a los polinizadores.

Floración

Las plantas con flores son cualquier planta que produce flores como parte de su ciclo reproductivo.

Floración de verano

Las plantas de floración de verano producen sus flores durante la temporada estival, a menudo aportando un color vibrante cuando muchas otras plantas ya han terminado de florecer.

Imán para polinizadores

Describe plantas que son particularmente atractivas y beneficiosas para una amplia variedad de organismos polinizadores.

Adaptado a la ciudad

Esta característica de hábitat indica especies que pueden coexistir con los humanos en entornos urbanos y suburbanos, utilizando estructuras artificiales y espacios verdes.