Campsis radicans

Campsis radicans, the trumpet vine,^[4]yellow trumpet vine,^[5] or trumpet creeper^[4] (also known in North America as cow-itch vine^[6] or hummingbird vine^[7]), is a species of flowering plant in the trumpet vine family Bignoniaceae, native to eastern North America, and naturalized elsewhere. Growing to 10 metres (33 feet), it is a vigorous, deciduous woody vine, notable for its showy trumpet-shaped flowers. It inhabits woodlands and riverbanks, and is also a popular garden plant.

C. radicans is a vine that climbs on trees, other plants, or structures or trails along the ground and can grow to a length of up to 10 metres (33 feet). From the main vine, rigid or woody arching vines up to 2 metres (7 feet) long extend outward. The plant can form a dense groundcover or an aggressive liana covering plants or buildings. The leaves are opposite and odd-pinnately compound, meaning there is an odd number of leaflets, with one terminal leaflet.

C. radicans climbs through aerial rootlets and twining stems; these stems grow upwards of 12 m in length.^[8] Its bark is tan in color, and shreds easily.^[9]

Leaves are up to 18 centimetres (7 inches) long with 7 to 13 leaflets that are each about 8 centimetres (3 inches) long and 4 centimetres (1.5 inches) wide. The leaflets are emerald green when new, maturing into a shiny dark green. They are ovate to broadly lanceolate and the edges are coarsely serrate.^[10]

Inflorescences

Las flores se presentan en cimas terminales de dos a ocho. Cada flor mide hasta 9 centímetros (3,5 pulgadas) de largo y tiene forma de trompeta. Son de color naranja a naranja rojizo con la garganta amarillenta y 5 lóbulos poco profundos que se curvan hacia atrás. Generalmente aparecen después de varios meses de clima cálido. Las flores no tienen fragancia. Tras la floración, aparece una cápsula de semillas alargada de unos 15 centímetros (6 pulgadas) de largo, que finalmente se abre en dos para dispersar sus semillas. ^{[ 11 ]}

La procedencia botánica de Campsis radicans , como miembro resistente de un grupo mayoritariamente subtropical, dificultó su denominación: según John Parkinson , los colonos de Virginia la llamaban inicialmente jazmín o madreselva, y luego campanilla; la clasificó en el género Apocynum (apocino). Joseph Pitton de Tournefort creó en 1700 el género Bignonia , del que posteriormente se separó. ^{[ 12 ]}

El epíteto específico latino radicans significa 'con tallos que echan raíces'. ^{[ 13 ]} La planta se conoce comúnmente como vid de la picazón de vaca porque algunas personas experimentan enrojecimiento y picazón en la piel después de entrar en contacto con las hojas. ^{[ 14 ]}

Campsis radicans es originaria del este de Estados Unidos y del extremo sur de Ontario , en Canadá . Se ha naturalizado en partes del oeste de Estados Unidos, así como en Ontario y el sur de Quebec , en partes de Europa y en lugares dispersos de Latinoamérica. ^{[ 15 ] [ 16 ]}

En el paisaje precolombino, C. radicans se limitaba principalmente a las tierras bajas de los pantanos, pero desde entonces se ha convertido en un colonizador exitoso de matorrales, cercas y tierras de cultivo abandonadas. ^{[ 9 ]} C. radicans también se puede encontrar en bosques de llanuras aluviales, incluso a lo largo de sus bordes, y en las riberas de los ríos. ^{[ 17 ]}

The flowers bloom in the summer for about three months^[18][19] and are very attractive to hummingbirds such as the ruby-throated hummingbird,^[11][18] while many types of birds like to nest in the dense foliage. Halictid bees, flies, and ants also feed on the nectar of the plant's extra-floral nectaries.^[11]Nectar robbing behavior has been observed to be performed by orchard orioles (Icterus spurius), which puncture and enlarge holes in the flower base to access nectaries.^[19] Certain sphinx moths with elongate proboscises are able to successfully feed on trumpet vines while hovering in front of the flower.^[20]

The flowers are followed by large seed pods. As these mature, they dry and split. Hundreds of thin, brown, paper-like seeds are released. These are easily grown when stratified. Larvae of Clydonopteron sacculana (the trumpet vine moth) feed on the seed pods.^[21]

C. radicans occasionally acts as a food source for large mammals.^[22] However, the plant is slightly toxic if ingested, and contact with flowers and leaves can result in swelling and skin redness.^[8]

C. radicans is sometimes considered a weedy species.^[22] Thinning the vines during the growing season and cutting them back during winter can help to limit their aggressive spread.^[8]

The trumpet vine grows vigorously. In warm weather, it puts out aerial rootlets that grab onto every available surface, and eventually expand into heavy woody stems several centimeters in diameter. It grows well on arbors, fences, telephone poles, and trees, although it may dismember them in the process. Ruthless pruning is recommended.^[10] Outside of its native range this species has the potential to be invasive, even as far north as New England.^[23] The trumpet vine thrives in many places in southern Canada as well.

Away from summer heat, C. radicans is less profuse of flower. A larger-flowered hybrid 'Mme Galen' was introduced about 1889 by the Tagliabue nurserymen of Lainate near Milan.^[12]

The form C. radicansf.flava has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.^[5]

A deeper red form "Flamenco" is available.

The plant can cause contact dermatitis.^[24]

• Campsis radicans images at bioimages.vanderbilt.edu