Black Swallowwort
Cynanchum louiseae
(formerly Cynanchum nigrum) |
Other common names:
Black Dog Strangling Vine, Dog Strangling Vine
Other scientific names:
Cynanchum nigrum, Asclepias nigra, Vincetoxicum nigrum
Family:
Dogbane Family (Apocynaceae), (Milkweed Family (Asclepiadaceae))
Group:
Swallowworts
Distinctive features:
Opposite leaves on a vine, milkweed-like seed pods and seeds.
Similar species:
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Pale Swallowwort (Cynanchum rossicum) - very similar.
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White Swallowwort (Cynanchum vincetoxicum) - very similar, has white flowers.
Flowers:
Summer; Green/Brown; 5 parts (petals); 5-petals, dark purple/dark brown, petals fuzzy, 1/4" wide, late spring & summer.
Leaves:
Opposite/Whorled, Entire; Opposite pairs, sometimes in a whorl, egg-shaped.
Height:
Vine, 2-6 feet long.
Stem:
Vine.
Fruit/Seeds:
In a pod closely resembling those of milkweed. but smaller.
Habitat:
Fields and Open Areas; Open areas, forest edges.
Books:
Newcomb's Wildflower Guide: 326
Peterson's Field Guide to Wildflowers: 390
ROM Field Guide to Wildflowers of Ontario: 139
Native/Non-native:
Non-native
Status:
Common.
Notes:
This is a highly invasive alien plant, that will aggressively take over an area once it gets a chance. Pull it up before it gets a foothold.
Origin and Meaning of Names:
Scientific Name: nigrum: black
Photographs:
5 photographs available, of which 3 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.
Range Map is at the bottom of the page
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A flower, showing the fuzzy petals. |
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Closeup of the side of a flower. |
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Range map for Black Swallowwort (Cynanchum louiseae)
PLEASE NOTE: A coloured Province or State means this species occurs somewhere in that Province/State.
The entire Province/State is coloured, regardless of where in that Province/State it occurs.
(Range map provided courtesy of the USDA website
and is displayed here in accordance with their
Policies)
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