Bryony

Bryonia dioica, commonly known as White Bryony and Black Bryony, also ladies’ seal or English mandrake, is a perennial climber from Southern and Central Europe.

Bryony (genus Bryonia) is a genus of around 12 species^[1] of climbing plants. Black Bryony (Tamus communis) and White Bryony (Bryonia dioica) are strong climbing plants that can reach 3 meters (10 feet) or more in one season.

White Bryony (Bryonia dioica) is a climber in the Cucurbitaceae (cucumber) family that develops multiple stems and forms greenish flowers in summer. The Black Bryony (Tamus communis) belongs to the Dioscoreaceae (yam) family and is a twisted climber.

In early summer (May-July), inconspicuous spikes of tiny greenish-yellow star-shaped flowers are formed. To differentiate between the two, white Bryonia has 5-lobed leaves, larger tendrils, and flowers.

In contrast, black bryonia has cordate leaves, no tendrils, and tiny flowers.