CROSSVINE 



Anisostichus capeolatus (Linnaeus) Bureau 



Although its flowers are very showy, crossvine is not familiar 

 to many flower lovers. Its glossy, evergreen, paired leaves are borne 

 on tough, tangled, woody stems with stout tendrils. The plant is 

 nearly related to the trumpet-creeper, but is easily distinguished 

 from it by the shorter trumpet of its flower. In some botanical 

 works it is listed as Bignonia crucigera, the species name meaning cross- 

 bearer. In a section of the stem certain elements of the wood make a 

 perfect cross, hence the name crossvine. In autumn the leaves turn 

 to a bronze color. The crossvine prefers moist, almost swampy situa- 

 tions having an acid soil. 



The plant ranges from Florida to Louisiana, and northward to 

 Virginia, southern Ohio, and Illinois. 



The specimen sketched was gathered near Beaufort, South Caro- 

 lina. 



PLATE 2.6 1 



