Kendall County (IL) Forest Preserve District
Moonseed Vine
(Common Moonseed)
Menispermum canadense
[C-value
6]
Moonseed family (Menispermaceae)
Blooms May -
mid-June
The native Moonseed Vine is common in our area. It prefers light shade to partial sun and moist to slightly moist fertile loamy soil. Habitats include open deciduous woodlands, woodland borders, thickets and semi-shaded stream banks. This woody vine is about 8-20' long, climbing adjacent objects and vegetation by its twining stems. The alternate leaves on young stems are up to 6" long, 8" across, and palmately-lobed. Occasionally, panicles of whitish to yellowish green flowers are produced along the young non-woody stems. These panicles up to 5" long have either all male or all female flowers. Each male flower is ¼" across, consisting of 4-8 greenish white sepals, 4-8 greenish white petals, and 12-24 stamens. The female flowers are similar except that they have pistils, rather than stamens and each of the 2-4 pistils can develop into a berry. The plant get its common name from the berry seeds that resemble a half moon.
Moonseed Vine at Lyon Forest Preserve May 9, 2015
Moonseed Vine at Lyon Forest Preserve May 9, 2015
Moonseed Vine at Richard Young Forest Preserve June 18, 2013
Moonseed Vine at Harris Forest Preserve June 1, 2013
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