NEN Gallery

This plant occurs frequently in hedgerows and woods on well drained soils throughout England, Wales and South Scotland. Both the plant and the berries are poisonous. The plants are either male or female. The male flowers (pictured) are carried in long stalked clusters and have four stamens, they are bigger than the female flowers, which are almost stalkless and have three lobed styles. The tendrils of the plant help it to climb on grasses and other plants. The leaves are five lobed. It flowers May to September. In the autumn it produces many seeded berries which are green or whitish when young and red when ripe. Picture taken at Old Warden, Bedfordshire 11th July 2006.