Fruit Seeds of Southern Michigan: dark

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Viburnum prunifolium -- Blackhaw

Native

Other names: Smooth Blackhaw, Blackhaw Viburnum, Stagbush

Steve Hurst @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database [1]

[3]

Jeff McMillian @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database [1]

William S. Justice @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database [1]

Developing Fruits; Steven J. Baskauf [7]

Sheryl Pollack / Discover Life [10]

[1]

Notes:
Flowering dates: April through June

Fruit ripening dates: July through October

Seed dispersal dates: October through April

References:

USDA Plants Database: V. prunifolium
Michigan Flora online species profile
University of Wisconsin-Steven Point Robert. W. Freckmann herbarium species profile
Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center species profile
Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of Illinois species profile

(Numbers in photo captions are photo credits, listed in the "Photo Credits" tab at the top of the page)

Smilax tamnoides -- Bristly Greenbrier

Native

Other names: Smilax hispida, Chinaroot, Hellfetter

Emmet J. Judziewicz [3]

Les Merhoff / Discover Life [10]

George Yatskievych / Discover Life [10]

[1]

Notes:
See Missouri Weed Seeds for a photograph of the seeds (labelled Smilax hispida).

References:

Seed picture at Missouri Weed Seeds
Species profile at USDA Plants Database
Michigan Flora online species profile
University of Wisconsin-Steven Point Robert. W. Freckmann herbarium species profile
Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center species profile
Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of Illinois species profile
Virginia Tech species profile

(Numbers in photo captions are photo credits, listed in the "Photo Credits" tab at the top of the page)

Buxus sempervirens -- Boxwood

Non-native (Europe, Western Asia, Northern Africa)

Other names: Common Box, English Boxwood, European Box

Maurice Reille [9]

John Ruter, University of Georgia [2]

[9]

John Ruter, University of Georgia [6]

Wouter Hagens [9]

[1]

Notes:
Not currently found in Michigan. This species is non-native to North America, but is not yet found to be invasive.

References:

Species profile at USDA Plants Database
University of Connecticut species profile
University of Florida IFAS Extension species profile

(Numbers in photo captions are photo credits, listed in the "Photo Credits" tab at the top of the page)

Zanthoxylum americanum -- Common Prickly Ash

Native

Other names: Toothache Tree

Steve Hurst @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database [1]

Marion Sheehan [3]

Paul Drobot [3]

[1]

Notes:
Flowering dates: April through May

Fruit ripening dates: June through August

References:

Species profile at USDA Plants Database
Michigan Flora online species profile
University of Wisconsin-Steven Point Robert. W. Freckmann herbarium species profile
Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center species profile
Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of Illinois species profile

(Numbers in photo captions are photo credits, listed in the "Photo Credits" tab at the top of the page)

Asparagus officinalis -- Garden Asparagus

Non-native (Northern Africa, Western Asia, Central to Southeastern Europe)

Other names: Common Asparagus, Garden Asparagus

Jose Hernandez @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database [1]

Excellent seed photo here; note micropunctate surface (which puckers when dry)

Christopher Noll [3]

[1]

Notes:
Although A. officinalis is not native to North America, it is not considered invasive.

References:

Species profile at USDA Plants Database
Michigan Flora online species profile
Profile with good fruit photos at Plants of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden
Profile at Ohio Perennial and Biennial Weed Guide
Species profile at Global Invasive Species Database

Updated 2019

(Numbers in photo captions are photo credits, listed in the "Photo Credits" tab at the top of the page)

Ligustrum spp. -- privets

There are a number of commonly-cultivated species of Ligustrum, as well as multiple hybrids. See text under Notes.

Non-native* (Europe and Asia)

Ligustrum sp. [8]


Typical flowers, this L. vulgare; some types more elongated [2] Robert Videki

Typical fruit
[4]

[1] L. obtusifolium

[1] L. ovalifolium

[1] L. vulgare

Notes:
Michigan Flora online lists three privets naturalized in Michigan:

Ligustrum obtusifolium (Border Privet)
Ligustrum ovalifolium (California Privet)
Ligustrum vulgare (Common Privet, European Privet)

L. vulgare is apparently the most common, although hybrids and other species/cultivars may dominate in some areas, especially in urbanized settings.

All have similar small, dull purple fruit with dry, mealy pulp and a large seed relative to the pulp. Although in some regions, particularly in the U.S. southeastern states, some species of privets are readily eaten by birds, they do not seem to be a highly desirable, at least in fall, in southeast Michigan. Perhaps the two common southern species, L. lucidum (Glossy Privet) and L. sinense (Chinese Privet), that are not yet found in Michigan are more appealing to birds.

Flowering dates for L. vulgare are in June-July, with fruit in September-October (often persisting through winter).

References:

Genus profile at USDA Plants Database
Michigan Flora online genera key (see links above to several species)
Profiles from the Invasive Plants Atlas:

Invasive Plant Science and Management paper: Identification and control of invasive privets (Ligustrum spp.) in the Middle Southern United States (pdf)
The Nature Conservancy Element Stewardship Abstract for Ligustrum (pdf)

* Listed as invasive in natural areas by the Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States.

(Numbers in photo captions are photo credits, listed in the "Photo Credits" tab at the top of the page)

Euonymus alatus -- Burning Bush

Non-native* (Northeastern Asia)

Other names: Winged Euonymus, Winged Burning Bush, Winged Spindletree, Winged Wahoo

[8]

[4]

Photo by Tony Rodd at Flickr under a Creative Commons license

Photo by Elle_Ann at Flickr under a Creative Commons license

[1]

Notes:
See identification tips and distinguishing E. alatus from other Euonymus in Mistaken Identity? Invasive Plants and their Native Look-alikes: an Identification Guide for the Mid-Atlantic (PDF) by the New York Botanical Garden.

References:

Species profile at USDA Plants Database
Michigan Flora online species profile
University of Wisconsin-Steven Point Robert. W. Freckmann herbarium species profile
Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of Illinois species profile
Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health, Invasive.org species profile

* Listed as invasive in natural areas by the Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States.

(Numbers in photo captions are photo credits, listed in the "Photo Credits" tab at the top of the page)

Smilax herbacea -- Smooth Carrionflower

Native

Other names: Jacob's Ladder, Herbaceous Carrion Flower, Carrion Vine

[22]

[1]

Notes:
See Missouri Weed Seeds for a photograph of the seeds.

Uncommon in Michigan.

May be confused with S. lasioneura. Both species are herbaceous and lack prickles. Underside of leaf of S. herbacea is glabrous while S. lasioneura is pubescent beneath.

References:

Species profile at USDA Plants Database: S. herbacea
Michigan Flora online species profile
University of Wisconsin-Steven Point Robert. W. Freckmann herbarium species profile
Ontario Wildflowers species profile

(Numbers in photo captions are photo credits, listed in the "Photo Credits" tab at the top of the page)

Vitis spp. -- Grapes

Native

Vitis riparia [8]

[1] Vitis riparia -- Riverbank Grape (most common species in Michigan)

[1] Vitis aestivalis -- Summer Grape, Pigeon Grape

[1] Vitis vulpina -- Frost Grape, Winter Grape

[4] Vitis riparia -- Riverbank Grape

Vitis aestivalis -- Summer Grape, Pigeon Grape
[Mary Keim, Flickr, under a Creative Commons license]

[1] Vitis vulpina -- Frost Grape, Winter Grape

Notes:
Numerous grape species are used by birds and other wildlife. The three species shown above are the Michigan natives (see this key to the species at Michigan Flora online), and found over most of eastern North America. Female plants produce fruit, and usually the vines need to reach a sunny position before flowering and fruiting.

See identification tips and distinguishing Vitis from Ampelopsis brevipedunculata (Porcelain Berry) in Mistaken Identity? Invasive Plants and their Native Look-alikes: an Identification Guide for the Mid-Atlantic (PDF) by the New York Botanical Garden.

Seeds are very similar, and grape seeds have been found to be present in fecal samples in birds at the Rouge River Bird Observatory, Dearborn, MI. The seeds are also very similar to those of related Parthenocissus species; see this page for information on how to distinguish the seeds of these genera.

Mean fruit diameter: 8.40 mm (n=239); mean number of seeds per fruit: 2.02 (n=200), based on samples collected at the Rouge River Bird Observatory, Dearborn, MI.

References:

Species profiles at USDA Plants Database: V. riparia, V. vulpina, V. aestivalis
Michigan Flora online species profiles: V. riparia, V. vulpina, V. aestivalis
University of Wisconsin-Steven Point Robert. W. Freckmann herbarium species profiles: V. riparia, V. aestivalis
Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of North Carolina species profile of Vitis vulpina
Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of Illinois species profiles: V. riparia, V. aestivalis and subspecies V. a. bicolor

(Numbers in photo captions are photo credits, listed in the "Photo Credits" tab at the top of the page)

Berberis vulgaris -- Common Barberry

See also Berberis thunbergii (Japanese Barberry).

Non-native* (Europe)

Other names: European Barberry, Jaundice Berry

[2]

[1] For more detail see also eFloras.org

Notes:
B. vulgaris can be differentiated from B. thunbergii in a number of ways.

The leaves of B. vulgaris have toothed edges, while the edges of the leaves of B. thunbergii are entire.
B. thunbergii has single, unbranched spines along the stem. B. vulgaris may have double or triple branched spines.
Flowers (and fruits) of B. thunbergii hang down from stems singularly; flowers usually white. B. vulgaris has yellow flowers in longish clusters.

Refer to a comparative chart and key to these species (PDF) from the USDA Forest Service.

References:

Species profile at USDA Plants Database
Michigan Flora online species profile
University of Wisconsin-Steven Point Robert. W. Freckmann herbarium species profile
Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health, Invasive.org species profile
eFloras.org species profile
The Stewardship Network species description of B. vulgaris and B. thunbergii

* Listed as invasive in natural areas by the Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States.

(Numbers in photo captions are photo credits, listed in the "Photo Credits" tab at the top of the page)

About

This is a reference guide to fleshy, bird-dispersed fruits, especially identification of seeds. It will focus on fall- and summer-fruiting plant species found in southern Michigan, but since many of these species are widespread in North America, it will be useful for a broader region. Both native and non-native species are covered.

This website was a project of the former Rouge River Bird Observatory; part of RRBO's research was examining the fall diet of birds at an urban site. This page is now maintained by Julie Craves.

Please cite as:

Craves, J. A., and D. Wloch. 2012. Fruit seeds of southern Michigan, an online guide. Rouge River Bird Observatory, University of Michigan-Dearborn and Prairie Oaks Ecological Station. Ann Arbor, MI. (seedguide.blogspot.com) Version 2023.

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