Gila Manroot

Description

Marah gilensis is a perennial vine growing from a large, branched tuber. This produces fleshy climbing shoots in spring, which grow to a height of 6 ft (1.8 m) or more, and scramble over trees and shrubs, clinging to them with coiled tendrils. The leaves are rather variable, glossy green and palmately-lobed, with three to seven lobes which are oblong-lanceolate or triangular, smooth above and hairy below. The flowers are white, yellow or greenish-white and have four or five corolla-lobes, separate male and female flowers being borne on the same plant.