Native. Perennial. Propagates by seeds. Time of bloom: June to August. Seed-time: August to October.

Range: Pennsylvania to Kansas, southward to Florida and Texas. Habitat: Fence rows and thickets, waste places; also troublesome in cultivated ground.

Vines such as this furnish a good argument against too many fences, as it is practically impossible to clean out the weed without removing its support. Stems eight to twelve or more feet long, slender, twining, smooth or minutely hairy in lines, filled with milky juice. Leaves three to five inches long, opposite, thin, heart-shaped, long-pointed, smooth, entire, with long petioles. Flowers in axillary cymose clusters, very small, bell-shaped, five-lobed, cream-white, fragrant; stamens five, the filaments united into a short tube; stigma slightly two-lobed; peduncles rather stout, not so long as the leaves, pedicels thread-like, longer than the flowers. Follicles three to five inches long, erect, smooth, wing-angled. Seeds flat, brown, tufted with silken hair.

Means Of Control

The weed is a persistent one and frequent and deep cutting is necessary in order to keep it in check, beginning when it is in early bloom and repeating as new shoots put forth. Dry salt or a few drops of carbolic acid will help in retarding new growth.