white bryony

White bryony refers to two European species of climbing vines in the gourd family: Bryonia alba and Bryonia dioica. These plants are perennials characterized by tendrils and berries, and most species are poisonous.12

Bryonia alba has male and female flowers on the same plant and produces black berries. Cretan bryony (Bryonia cretica), a related species, has a thick white root, large lobed leaves, pale yellow flowers, and small red fruits. It was historically used as a cathartic and diuretic and contains the poisonous alkaloid bryonin.1

It is important to distinguish white bryony from black bryony (Tamus communis), which is an unrelated vine in the yam family.1