Hi, Dr. Hill,
This fairly smooth, pale green vine is growing in shady white oak and pine woods in the fall line. Even on January 5, it had these few leaves remaining. I don’t have much more information about it except via the photos of the leaf front and back. The oldest mature vines that I saw are quite thick, 1-1/2 inches diameter, still green-colored like younger parts of the vine. The very youngest growth of the vine and the leaf stem is reddish, as can be seen in the main photo.
Thank you.
Diane
Hi Diane,
this is an interesting vine/liana known as Alabama supplejack, Berchemia scandens, in the Rhamnaceae. It is native. Most of our Rhamnaceae are shrubs. You can find out a little more about it here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berchemia_scandens
Sincerely,
Dr. Steven Hill, Botanist, SCNPS