Coefficient of Conservatism:
2
Coefficient of Wetness:
0
Wetness Index:
FAC
Physiognomy:
Nt W-Vine
J. Kelly
Forests and thickets, both wet and dry, and open ground, both wet and upland.
A vigorous vine climbing by aerial roots, especially in lowland and floodplain habitats, though also sprawling on the ground. It may have spectacular horizontal branches a meter or two long, upturned at the ends, spreading from tree trunks. If there is nothing on which to climb, this can form a rank shrub to 2 m. The leaflets are essentially flat when fresh, ovate to somewhat lance-ovate, and the petioles are pubescent.
This widespread species is the commonest source of allergic disease in the United States. Remember that our two poison-ivy species in Michigan are low shrubs or vines, with alternate leaves, whitish fruit, and leaflets entire to sparsely and coarsely dentate and larger than those of most other trifoliolate plants. This species is very local northwards, mainly along the larger rivers. The only other native Michigan vine that climbs by aerial roots is Parthenocissus quinquefolia.