Malpighiaceae
Bull withe
Heteropterys purpurea
- Family
- Malpighiaceae
- Genus
- Heteropterys
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Common names
By language (1)
- English
- Bull withe
Synonyms
- Banisteria microphylla Jacq.
- Banisteria parvifolia Vent.
- Banisteria purpurea L.
- Banisteria verruculosa Sw.
- Heteropterys parvifolia (Vent.) DC.
- Heteropterys purpurea f. oblonga Nied.
- Heteropterys purpurea f. typica Nied.
- Heteropterys purpurea var. antillana Nied.
Flowers
- In flower
- February, April (from 6 flowering iNaturalist observations worldwide)
Characteristics
- Growth habit
- Vine
- Lifespan
- Perennial
- In the US and Canada
- Puerto Rico: native, U.S. Virgin Islands: native
Photos

Photo: Quentin Groom, CC0, from iNaturalist 
Photo: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Kurt Miller, CC BY-SA 4.0, from iNaturalist 
Photo: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Kurt Miller, CC BY-SA 4.0, from iNaturalist 
Photo: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Don Loarie, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist 
Photo: Kurt Miller, CC BY-SA 4.0, from iNaturalist 
Photo: Kurt Miller, CC BY-SA 4.0, from iNaturalist 
Photo: Alan Weakley, CC0, from iNaturalist
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- Heteropterys admirabilisMalpighiaceae
- Heteropterys brachiataMalpighiaceae
- Heteropterys byrsonimifoliaMalpighiaceae
- Heteropterys capixabaMalpighiaceae
- Heteropterys dumetorumMalpighiaceae
- Heteropterys imperataMalpighiaceae
- Dragon witheHeteropterys laurifoliaMalpighiaceae
Sources: classification, synonyms from World Flora Online Plant List (2026-06, CC0 1.0); common names, popularity from Wikidata (2026-10-26, CC0 1.0); common names, US characteristics from USDA PLANTS Database (2025-05-29, CC0 1.0). About our plant data.