# Carolina snailseed (*Nephroia carolina*) Carolina snailseed is a climbing plant with pretty leaves and small, round seeds. It grows in warm places and can be found winding around other plants. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 8 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Carolina snailseed](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Cocculus_carolinus_-_UC_Davis_Arboretum_-_DSC03381.JPG&width=800) Photo: Daderot, CC0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cocculus_carolinus_-_UC_Davis_Arboretum_-_DSC03381.JPG) ## Appearance The Carolina snailseed is a slender, woody vine with heart-shaped to lobed green leaves. It produces tiny, inconspicuous greenish-white flowers that transform into clusters of bright red, pea-sized berries in autumn. Its distinctive seeds are kidney-shaped, resembling miniature snail shells. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Ranunculales - **Family:** Menispermaceae - **Genus:** Cocculus ## Interesting facts - Did you know its seeds look \*exactly\* like tiny snail shells, giving the plant its name? - Its small red berries might look tasty, but they are generally not safe for humans to eat! - Some gardeners use it for shade, growing it over trellises and arbors! - This vine loves to hug other plants, twining its way up towards the sunny sky! ## Special abilities - **Twining Tangle:** Carolina snailseed can twist its flexible stem around trees and fences to climb high, reaching crucial sunlight in dense areas. - **Seed Snails:** Carolina snailseed has unique kidney-shaped seeds that mimic tiny snail shells, which helps identify this clever plant. - **Berry Beacon:** Carolina snailseed produces bright red berries that attract birds, which then help spread its seeds far and wide. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 300-600 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.3-0.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar and pollen from its small flowers. - **Eaten by:** [American robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Eats the bright red berries, dispersing seeds. - **Depends on:** [White oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-oak) (*Quercus alba*) — Climbs on trees for physical support to reach sunlight. ## Traits - [Climbing/Vine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/climbing-vine): Climbing or vine plants are characterized by a growth habit that allows them to ascend upwards by twining, tendrils, or adhesive roots. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch plants unless a grown-up says it's okay. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Carolina snailseed? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Carolina snailseed? 300-600 cm ### How big are the flowers on Carolina snailseed? 0.3-0.5 cm ### When does Carolina snailseed bloom? Summer ### Is Carolina snailseed edible? No ### Is Carolina snailseed toxic? Mild ### What is Carolina snailseed's lifecycle? Perennial ### How is Carolina snailseed pollinated? Insect ## Where to spot - [Bullock County Courthouse Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bullock-county-courthouse-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Columbia Canal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/columbia-canal) — South Carolina, US · Historic Site - [Concord](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/concord) — Tennessee, US · Neighborhood - [San Antonio Missions National Historical Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/san-antonio-missions-national-historical-park) — Texas, US · National Park - [Bottle Creek Indian Mounds](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bottle-creek-indian-mounds) — Alabama, US · Historic Site - [Caldwell Street Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/caldwell-street-historic-district) — South Carolina, US · Historic District [View all places to see Carolina snailseed](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/carolina-snailseed) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Carolina snailseed: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/carolina-snailseed)