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Bryonia dioica

Tracheophyta ›Magnoliopsida›Cucurbitaceae›Bryonia›Bryonia dioica

Ecology

A dioecious scrambling perennial herb with a massive, tuberous root-stock. It grows on well-drained, often base-rich, soils in hedgerows, scrub, woodland borders, and on rough and waste ground. It is unpalatable to rabbits and can be locally frequent around warrens. Lowland.

Status

Native

Trends

There has been no substantial change in the distribution since the 1962 Atlas. The limits of its native distribution are remarkably stable.

World Distribution

Submediterranean-Subatlantic element.

© P. Shannon
Chester, vc58
© P. Shannon
Chester, vc58
© P. Shannon

Broad Habitats

Boundary and linear features (eg hedges, roadsides, walls)

Light (Ellenberg): 7

Moisture (Ellenberg): 5

Reaction (Ellenberg): 7

Nitrogen (Ellenberg): 7

Salt Tolerance (Ellenberg): 0

January Mean Temperature (Celsius): 3.6

July Mean Temperature (Celsius): 16

Annual Precipitation (mm): 726

Height (cm): 400

Perennation - primary

Perennial

Life Form - primary

Non-bulbous geophyte (rhizome, corm or tuber)

Woodiness

Herbaceous

Clonality - primary

Little or no vegetative spread

Count of 10km squares in Great Britain: 1004

Count of 10km squares in Ireland: 0

Count of 10km squares in the Channel Isles: 4

Atlas Change Index: -0.5

Weighted Changed Factor: 3

Weighted Change Factor Confidence (90%)

11

JNCC Designations

NBNSYS0000003717