Vines , to 3 m or more; rhizomes to 1.4 cm diam. Stems with appressed pubescence. Leaves: petiole to 1.8 cm. Leaf blade generally linear, lanceolate-oblong, oblong, or ovate-oblong, to 8.5 × 6 cm, ± leathery, base sometimes lobed, apex obtuse to rounded and often retuse, mucronate; surfaces glabrous, abaxially slightly pale; venation 3-5. Inflorescences to 7 cm; bracteoles and rachis glabrous or pubescent with short-appressed hairs, sometimes glaucous. Flowers: perianth parts glabrous, often glaucous; sepals in 3 series, outer sepals 0-3, ovate, 0.4-0.8 × 0.3-0.4 mm, middle 3 sepals ovate to elliptic or obovate, 0.6-1.6 × 0.4-1 mm, inner 3 sepals elliptic to nearly orbiculate, 1.2-2.2 × 1.2-1.8 mm; petals 6, usually yellowish, elliptic to obovate, 0.8-1.6 × 0.6-1 mm, glabrous. Staminate flowers: stamens 6, to 1.8 mm; pistillodes absent. Pistillate flowers: staminodes to 0.4 mm; pistils to 1.4 mm. Drupes black or bluish black, 4-6 mm diam., often glaucous.

Flowering spring-fall. Brushlands, prairies, palm groves, fencerows, along resecas and canyons; 0-1400 m; Ariz., Tex.; Mexico.

Plant: vine; to 2 m tall; stems woody, gray to brown, with short, confluent ridges; younger stems green to gray or brown, finely grooved, with fine, appressed hairs

Leaves: linear to oblong, ovate or suborbicular, minutely mucronate, 2-6(-9) cm long, (0.2-)0.5-2.0(-3.0) cm wide, coriaceous; petiole 0.5-2.0 cm long, with fine appressed hairs; base cordate to rounded or sometimes somewhat hastate; margin entire and slightly revolute; upper surface dull green, glabrous, semi-lustrous, finely reticulate-veined; lower surface pale green, glabrous or slightly puberulent on the veins near the base

INFLORESCENCE: a short axillary raceme 1-5 cm long; pedicels 1-6 mm long

Flowers: 1-3 mm in diameter; sepals greenish, elliptic; petals white to yellowish, 1-2 mm long, ovate to oval, concave, the margin erose; stamens barely included, the filaments erect or incurved; style short; ovary incurved in fruit

Fruit: fleshy, solitary or in clusters of 2-6, dark purple to bluish-black, glaucous, 5-6 mm in diameter. SEED 3-4 mm in diameter, 1.5-2.0 mm thick; ventral side with rugose transverse ridges

Misc: Along roadsides and in washes and woodlands; 1000-1500 m (3200-5000 ft); May-Aug

REFERENCES: Laferriere, Joseph E. 1994. Menispermaceae. J. Ariz. - Nev. Acad. Sci. Volume 27, 237.

Duration: Perennial

Nativity: Native

Lifeform: Vine

General: Woody, climbing shrub with slender stems.

Leaves: Alternate, simple, thickish, linear to broadly ovate, 0.3-3 cm wide, 2-7 cm long, rounded and mucronulate to acute at apex, glabrous or sparsely pubescent, especially along margins and veins beneath. 

Flowers: Short axillary raceme 1-5 cm long, pubescent, greenish ovate sepals, outer 1 mm long, inner 1.5 mm long, petals 2-2.5 mm long, rounded at apex.

Fruits: Globose drupe, dark purplish black, fleshy, staining, 5-6 mm in diameter.

Ecology: Found mostly in the shade of trees and larger shrubs from 3,500-5,000 ft (1067-1524 m); flowers May-August.

Notes: Stems gray to brown with short, confluent ridges, younger stems green to gray to brown, finely grooved, with fine, appressed hairs.

Ethnobotany: Unknown

Etymology: Cocculus comes from Greek kokkos, berry or grain, while diversifolius refers to diverse foliage.

Synonyms: None

Editor: SBuckley, 2010