Form: a woody, somewhat hairy vine

Leaves:
             

Arrangement: alternate; compound, 3 leaflets

Shape: oval, but nearly heart-shaped; can be lobed

Margin: entire

Texture: pubescent

Venation: parallel

Bark: Brown and scaly

Twigs and buds: Brown and pubescent

Flowers and fruit: reddish purple flowers smelling of grapes, Fruit is a brown pod appearing in clusters.

Distinguishing characteristics: Vine, 3 leaflets, reddish purple flowers.

Range: All across eastern U.S. High concentrations in the south.

Silvics: waste areas, woods, roadsides; fast growing, up to 60' in one season

Ecological and cultural importance: native to Japan and China where it is grown for its edible, starch roots and for fiber made from its stems. Introduced to this country as livestock fodder in the late 1800's and planted extensively to control erosion in 1930's.  A very serious pest species in the South especially in Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. Goats the only know animal to consume this species.