Below, the leaf of the Carrion Flower.

Carrion Flower is a vine like plant which produces greenish blossoms in May and June. These blossoms smell of carrion or rotting flesh, hence the name. The fruit, however, does not. Fruiting stage occurs in September when the plant produces a very round ball of tightly compacted blueberry size fruits.

This plant is not the highly televised sub-tropical plant which rarely blossoms and is of gigantic stature.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrion_flower

Rather, this plant is often referred to as Smooth Carrion Flower. The flowers smell like carrion, which attracts flies, the major pollinator. Plants are either male or female. Only female plants produce the blue berry-like fruit.

It is a member of the Greenbrier family of vine plants and prefers moist woods and thickets. My specimens were found along a rocky farmer's fencerow 0n country road 11 just off highway 50 north of Campellford.

Is the fruit edible? Carrion Flower was used by both early settlers and native Americans. The tubers or roots were roasted and ground into a type of flour to make bread. Some natives ate the small berries, calling them 'coonberries'. The young shoots resemble asparagus and have served as a substitute for that vegetable. The berries are favorite foods of birds and animals which explains why so many of them will sprout along fencelines.

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