Fauna
Plant · GBIF taxon 3039506

Supplejack

Berchemia scandens

Also known as Alabama Supplejack, Carolina Supplejack, American Rattan

Supplejack is a high-climbing woody vine renowned for smooth, slender, dark green stems that twist tightly around tree trunks and ascend into the canopy. Clusters of inconspicuous greenish-white blossoms appear in late spring, ripening by autumn into deep blue-black drupes that sustain migratory songbirds and resident mammals through winter. In bottomland hardwood forests, the sinuous lianas form dense vertical tangles that provide crucial nesting cover and canopy bridges for arboreal wildlife.

Climbing VineWoodyWildlife Food
Supplejack reference1 / 7
Licensed reference(c) mayfly1963, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by mayfly1963 · cc-by
—observations
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Photosynthetic autotroph
Predators
  • White-tailed Deer
  • Northern Cardinal
  • Wild Turkey
ThreatsHabitat destruction, wetland drainage, and excessive mechanical clearing
HabitatsBottomlands, swamps, floodplains, streambanks, and moist upland woodlands
Life span30–60+ years
Classification
  1. OrderRosales
  2. FamilyRhamnaceae
  3. GenusBerchemia
  4. SpeciesBerchemia scandens
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Wild berries have toxic look-alikes; never eat based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
  • Stem Identification: Look for exceptionally smooth, flexible, greenish-black bark on vines that coil tightly around canopy trees.
  • Wildlife Observation: Watch fruiting vines quietly in late autumn to spot foraging cardinals, thrushes, and robins.
Related species
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