Seasonal Wild Flowers

Black Bryony

Tamus communis

Dioscoreaceae

May to September

It is found throughout the country apart from the far North.

See the BSBI distribution map for Black Bryony

It is common in hedgerows, on the outer parts of

woodland, scrub, waste land, and alongside paths

and country lanes.

Black Bryony is a native, monocotyledenous, tuberous,

climber, clambering up to several metres.

The tuber is big (20-60cm) and develops between 10

and 20cm below the soil surface.

Stems are 2mm across and twine to the left.

The flowers are a mix of green and cream.

Male flowers (5mm across) are the more numerous

and have 6 petals and 6 stamens.

Female flowers (4mm across) are less frequent and have

3, 2-lobed recurved stigmas.

The green, orange, then scarlet berries are in trailing

tendrils.

Leaves are dark green, glistening and heart-shaped

with a point.

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Next page: Black Mulberry

Black Bryony - male flower spikes

Close-up - male flowers

Female flowers

Close-up of female flower

Left-twining stems

Leaves

Unripe berries

Ripe berries

Black Bryony vines in winter