Cretan bryony (Bryonia cretica, Sp. Pl.: 1013 (1753))

Family: Cucurbitaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 1013 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Bryonia

Vegetable: False

Observations: Europe to N. Africa and C. Asia

Description

The Cretan bryony, scientifically known as Bryonia cretica, is a fascinating plant that has captivated the attention of botanists and plant enthusiasts alike. First described in the seminal work “Species Plantarum” in 1753 by the renowned botanist Carl Linnaeus, this plant belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family, which includes many well-known members such as cucumbers and melons.

The geographic distribution of Bryonia cretica is quite extensive, spanning from Europe through Northern Africa and reaching into Central Asia. This wide range indicates the plant’s remarkable adaptability to different climates and environments, from the Mediterranean’s arid landscapes to the more temperate regions found in parts of Europe and Asia.

Bryonia cretica exhibits the typical characteristics of the Cucurbitaceae family. It is a climbing or scrambling perennial herb, often using its tendrils to latch onto surrounding vegetation for support. This growth habit allows it to thrive in a variety of settings, whether in wild forests, scrublands, or even in less hospitable areas where other plants may struggle to survive.

One of the notable features of Cretan bryony is its leaves, which are typically large, green, and palmate with five to seven lobes. These leaves not only contribute to the plant’s aesthetic appeal but also play a crucial role in photosynthesis, giving it the energy needed to grow and reproduce.

The flowers of Bryonia cretica are unisexual, meaning individual plants produce either male or female flowers. This dioecious arrangement necessitates the presence of both male and female plants in proximity for successful pollination and subsequent fruit production. The flowers themselves are usually small and yellow-green, less conspicuous than those of some other plants but nonetheless charming in their simplicity.

Following successful pollination, Bryonia cretica produces round fruits that change color as they mature, typically transitioning from green to red. However, these berries should be noted for their toxicity; despite their attractive appearance, they can be harmful if ingested.

Throughout history, various parts of the Cretan bryony have been used in traditional medicine, although modern medical use is less common due to the plant’s potential toxicity. Its roots, in particular, were once thought to possess medicinal properties and were used in various remedies.

In summary, Bryonia cretica, or Cretan bryony, is a notable member of the Cucurbitaceae family with a rich history and geographical spread from Europe to Northern Africa and Central Asia. Its climbing habit, distinctive leaves, unisexual flowers, and toxic fruits make it a plant of interest in both botanical and historical contexts.

Common Names

Eng: cretan bryony
Nno: raudgallebær
Nob: rødgallebær
En: Cretan bryony, White bryony
Ar: طفوه (طَفْوه), عَنب الحيه (عِنَب الحَيَّه), لعبه مره
Da: Tvebo galdebær
De: Zweihäusige Zaunrübe
He: דלעת-נחש מצויה
Is: Klifurber
No: Raudgallbær
Nb: Rødgallebær
Nn: Raudgallebær
Sk: Posed dvojdomý
Sv: Röd hundrova

Synonyms

Distribution

• Albania (native)
• Algeria (native)
• Austria (native)
• Belgium (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Corse (native)
• Cyprus (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• East Aegean Is. (native)
• Egypt (native)
• France (native)
• Germany (native)
• Great Britain (native)
• Greece (native)
• Hungary (native)
• Italy (native)
• Kazakhstan (native)
• Kriti (native)
• Lebanon-Syria (native)
• Libya (native)
• Morocco (native)
• Netherlands (native)
• Palestine (native)
• Portugal (native)
• Sardegna (native)
• Sicilia (native)
• Spain (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Tadzhikistan (native)
• Tunisia (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Uzbekistan (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• California (introduced)
• Denmark (introduced)
• Finland (introduced)
• Poland (introduced)
• Sweden (introduced)
• Turkmenistan (introduced)

Additional Images

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Fruit

Taken Aug 13, 2017 by 1 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 25, 2017 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 10, 2017 by 1 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 27, 2017 by 1 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 13, 2017 by 1 (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Apr 18, 2018 by 1 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 12, 2018 by Marcos Rivas Campoamor (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 5, 2018 by Marcos Rivas Campoamor (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 9, 2017 by Rosa Sales (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 9, 2017 by Rosa Sales (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Jun 26, 2017 by 1 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 11, 2018 by Marcos Rivas Campoamor (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 5, 2018 by Marcos Rivas Campoamor (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 18, 2018 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 9, 2018 by Ángel Sánchez (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Sep 7, 2017 by 1 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 7, 2017 by 1 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 7, 2017 by 1 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 7, 2017 by 1 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 7, 2017 by 1 (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken May 16, 2017 by Jean-René Girardeau (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 18, 2018 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 31, 2022 by Gaël Covain (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 10, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 18, 2018 by 1 (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Aug 29, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 21, 2022 by Monteiro Henrique (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 21, 2022 by Gaël Covain (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 17, 2021 by Martínez Eduardo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 10, 2022 by Kai Best (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2874496)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:291575-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Bryonia cretica L.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Vine, Forb/herb

Growth

Ph maximum: 7.5

Ph minimum: 7.0

Light: 8

Atmospheric humidity: 8

Bloom months: [‘may’, ‘jun’, ‘jul’, ‘aug’]

Soil nutriments: 8