Appearance
''Cocculus carolinus'' is a climbing vine reaching 5 meters or more. It produces ovate or triangle-shaped leaves. The male and female flowers are small and green, appearing on different plants. The bright red fruit, a drupe, appears from June to August. It reaches 8 mm in size. Each fruit has a single seed that resembles a small snail shell, protected by the hard endocarp or the inner section of the ovary wall.Naming
The species' common name derives from the appearance of its small, rounded red fruits, and the rough half-moon shape of its seeds.Distribution
This species is native from northern Florida to Mexico, north to North Carolina, Kentucky, southern Illinois and southeast Kansas. Its natural habitat is in rocky woodlands and streamside thickets, particularly in calcareous areas. It is a weedy species, and can also be found in disturbed habitats such as fencerows and waste areas.References:
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