Freshwater Wetlands/ Climbing Bartonia

COMMON NAME: Climbing Bartonia

OTHER COMMON NAME(S): Twining Bartonia, Screw Stem

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Bartonia paniculata 

FAMILY: Gentianaceae

COMMUNITY: Freshwater Wetlands

STATUS: Native

LIFESPAN: Annual or Biannual

HEIGHT: 4 to 16 inches twining

FLOWERING TIME: Late August to October

FRUITING TIME: September to late October

DISTRIBUTION: Newfoundland to Florida ~ Throughout Pine Barrens and Coastal Strip in New Jersey

IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS: Stem spiral, twining, green to yellowish or purplish ~ Flowers numerous ~ Leaves mostly alternate

GENERAL INFORMATION: The Gentianaceae family commonly called the Gentain family is composed of 74 genera and 1,200 species of herbs and a few shrubs and small trees; found primarily in temperate and subtropical regions. Gentius, King of Illyria (ancient country approximately where Greece is today) in the second century B.C. supposedly discovered the medicinal properties of Yellow Gentian (Gentiana lutea). Plants in the genus Bartonia are named for B. S. Barton (1766-1815), a botanist from Philadelphia. Other members of this family (Gentianaceae) are in the genus Sabatia.  It has been reported that the inhabitants of Plymouth, Massachusetts were convinced that the Pilgrims of 1620 named a plant in this genus Marsh Pink “Sabatia” after the Sabbath, the holy day on which they first saw the flower, and that “strong objections are made if any other flowers are irreverently mingled with it in church decorations.”

Please note: While harvesting wild berries/fruit is permitted at Island Beach State Park, visitors must adhere to park regulations at all times and must not damage vegetation or go off designated trails.  This information is presented for educational purposes.