Ontario Trees & Shrubs website

Canada Moonseed
Menispermum canadense

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
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Canada Moonseed (Menispermum canadense)

Typical leaves.

Canada Moonseed (Menispermum canadense)

Sometimes the leaves are not as lobed.

Canada Moonseed (Menispermum canadense)

A grouping of leaves.

Canada Moonseed (Menispermum canadense)

Canada Moonseed trailing up a tree, very similar to grape vines.

Canada Moonseed (Menispermum canadense)

Canada Moonseed (Menispermum canadense)

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.

Canada Moonseed (Menispermum canadense)

Unripe fruit in late August (sorry, the photo is slightly out of focus!).
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Range map for Canada Moonseed (Menispermum canadense)

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)