Cynanchum laeve
Encyclopedia
Cynanchum laeve is a vining perennial herb native to eastern and central U.S. states and Ontario. Common names include honeyvine, honeyvine milkweed, bluevine milkweed, climbing milkweed, and smooth swallow-wort.
Like bindweed
and some other members of the Convolvulaceae
, Cynanchum laeve is a twining vine
with heart-shaped leaves common in roadsides, fence rows, fields, and disturbed areas. However, C. laeve is easily recognized as a member of the Milkweed family by its opposite leave placement, milky sap and distinctive flowers and "milkweed pods
." The seeds are wind dispersed
and can travel long distances.
Cynanchum laeve is considered a noxious weed in several states, and can be very difficult to eradicate from fields because of its deep, extensive root system. Like many other milkweed species, C. laeve contains toxic cardenolide
alkaloids, and is a food plant for the caterpillars of Monarch butterflies.
Like bindweed
Bindweed
Bindweed may refer to:* Convolvulaceae , a family including about 60 genera and more than 1,650 species** Calystegia , a genus of about 25 species of flowering plants...
and some other members of the Convolvulaceae
Convolvulaceae
Convolvulaceae, known commonly as the bindweed or morning glory family, are a group of about 60 genera and more than 1,650 species of mostly herbaceous vines, but also trees, shrubs and herbs.- Description :...
, Cynanchum laeve is a twining vine
Vine
A vine in the narrowest sense is the grapevine , but more generally it can refer to any plant with a growth habit of trailing or scandent, that is to say climbing, stems or runners...
with heart-shaped leaves common in roadsides, fence rows, fields, and disturbed areas. However, C. laeve is easily recognized as a member of the Milkweed family by its opposite leave placement, milky sap and distinctive flowers and "milkweed pods
Follicle (fruit)
In botany, a follicle is a dry unilocular many-seeded fruit formed from one carpel and dehiscing by the ventral suture in order to release seeds, such as in larkspur, magnolia, banksia, peony and milkweed....
." The seeds are wind dispersed
Seed dispersal
Seed dispersal is the movement or transport of seeds away from the parent plant. Plants have limited mobility and consequently rely upon a variety of dispersal vectors to transport their propagules, including both abiotic and biotic vectors. Seeds can be dispersed away from the parent plant...
and can travel long distances.
Cynanchum laeve is considered a noxious weed in several states, and can be very difficult to eradicate from fields because of its deep, extensive root system. Like many other milkweed species, C. laeve contains toxic cardenolide
Cardenolide
Cardenolide is a type of steroid. Many plants contain derivatives, collectively known as cardenolides, including many in the form of cardenolide glycosides...
alkaloids, and is a food plant for the caterpillars of Monarch butterflies.