Other common names:
Common Moonseed, Moonseed, Moonseed Vine, Yellow Parilla French names:
Ménisperme du Canada Family: Moonseed Family (Menispermaceae) Distinctive features: Woody Vine Similar species:
Riverbank Grape (Vitis riparia) - Leaves similar. Seeds are not crescent-shaped and are edible. Vines have tendrils.
One-seeded Bur Cucumber (Sicyos angulatus) Flowers: Summer; White; 6 parts (petals) Leaves: Simple, Entire Habitat: Fields and Open Areas Poisonous:
Fruits are poisonous. They resemble those of wild grapes.
Books: Shrubs of Ontario: 121 Newcomb's Wildflower Guide: 356 Native/Non-native:
Native Origin and Meaning of Names:
Scientific Name: canadense: of Canada, Canadian For more information visit: Ontario Wildflowers Photographs:
68 photographs available, of which 7 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.
Range Map is at the bottom of the page
Canada Moonseed trailing up a tree, very similar to grape vines.
This is one of the distinctive features of Canada Moonseed leaves - the leaf stem (petiole) attaches to the leaf just in from the leaf edge. This helps to distinguish Canada Moonseed from Grapes.
Unripe fruit in late August (sorry, the photo is slightly out of focus!).
PLEASE NOTE: A coloured Province or State means this species occurs somewhere in that Province/State.
The entire Province/State is coloured, regardless of where in that Province/State it occurs.
(Range map provided courtesy of the USDA website
and is displayed here in accordance with their
Policies)