BRYONY

(genus Bryonia), any of a number of plants of the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae). These plants are mostly herbs or long-tendriled climbing vines that are native to Eurasia. White bryony (B. cretica or B. dioica) has a thick, fleshy white root, large lobed leaves, pale yellow flowers arranged in clusters in the leaf axils, and small red berries. In North America, white bryony refers to B. alba, which differs from B. cretica in having male and female flowers on the same plant and in having black berries. Bryonia cretica was formerly used as a cathartic and as a diuretic. The plant contains the poisonous alkaloid bryonin.