SimplePlant

Malpighiaceae

Bull withe

Heteropterys purpurea Kunth

Family
Malpighiaceae
Genus
Heteropterys

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Bull withe (Heteropterys purpurea)
Photo: Quentin Groom, CC0, from iNaturalist

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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

More in Heteropterys

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.