Texas Wildbuds
Berchemia scandens
(Alabama Supplejack)
Berchemia scandens, Bonham State Park, Fannin Co. 5015
Berchemia scandens, Bonham State Park, Fannin Co. 5011
Berchemia scandens, Bonham State Park, Fannin Co. 5016
Berchemia scandens, Bonham State Park, Fannin Co. 5017
Berchemia scandens, Bonham State Park, Fannin Co. 6273
| Scientific Name | Berchemia scandens | USDA PLANTS Symbol | BESC |
| Common Name | Alabama Supplejack, Rattan-vine | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 33493 |
| Family | Rhamnaceae (Buckthorn) | SEINet Reference | Click Here |
| Description | Habitat: Various soil types thickets, woods, ravines, swamps and streambeds. Plant: Vines, usually climbing and extending into crowns of trees; tough and flexible stems with smooth bark, reddish to yellowish-brown, aging to greenish or gray; unarmed. Leaves: Alternate, ovate or oblong-elliptic leaves 1.2 to 2.4 inches long; margins are entire or undulate; tips are obtuse to short acuminate; upper surface hairless (glabrous). lower is grayish (glaucous) and with conspicuous parallel veins. Inflorescence: Panicles at the ends of lateral branches with 7 to 20 very small (~2mm across) greenish-white, cup-shaped flowers; 5 sepals and petals. Bloom Period: April and May. Fruit: Drupes, ellipsoidal, about 1/3-inch long, blue-black to purple-red. References: "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston, "Shinners & Mahler’s Flora of North Central Texas" by Diggs, Lipscomb and O’Kennon, Flora of North America and SEINet. |
BONAP Distribution Map Map Color Key |
Texas Status: Native |
Banner photo of Castilleja indivisa and Lupinus ssp. taken along FM 1323 north of Johnson City, Blanco County
© Tom Lebsack 2026
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