A common, poisonous, climbing hedgerow inhabitant that can also be found in woodland, gardens and waste ground and is the only native member of the Yam family growing in the UK.
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Black Bryony
Black Bryony
| Hedgerow Type | |
| Common Names | Black Bryony, Lady’s Seal, Black Bindweed |
| Scientific Name | Dioscorea communis |
| Synonyms | Tamis communis |
| Season Start | Apr |
| Season End | Nov |
Please note that each and every hedgerow item you come across may vary in appearance to these photos.
Leaves
Shiny green heart/ace of spades shaped leaves with obvious veins. There are many leaves along the climbing, twisting stem.
Male Flowers
The male flowers are small, have six green to yellow petals with six stamens and appear from late April to August hanging in clustered racemes.
Female Flowers
The female flowers are similar to the male flowers but are much less in number and in compact bunches, not hanging in racemes.
Fruit
The berries start green but ripen to a glossy, bright red colour and hang in ‘strings’.
Stem
The stem climbs and twists anti-clockwise around anything it can get purchase on.
Roots
Has swollen but relatively small roots with white flesh.
Habitat
Hedgerows, woodland, gardens and waste ground.
Frequency
Very common.
