''Anredera cordifolia'', commonly known as the Madeira-vine or mignonette vine, is a South American

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriat ...

of ornamental succulent vine of the family Basellaceae. The combination of fleshy leaves and thick aerial tubers makes this a very heavy vine. It smothers trees and other vegetation it grows on and can easily break branches and bring down entire trees on its own.

Description

''Anredera cordifolia'' is an

evergreen In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has foliage that remains green and functional through more than one growing season. This also pertains to plants that retain their foliage only in warm climates, and contrasts with deciduous plants, whic ...

climber that grows from fleshy

rhizome In botany and dendrology, a rhizome (; , ) is a modified subterranean plant stem that sends out roots and shoots from its nodes. Rhizomes are also called creeping rootstalks or just rootstalks. Rhizomes develop from axillary buds and grow ...

s. It has bright green, heart-shaped, fleshy shiny leaves 4–13 cm long. Wart-like tubers are produced on aerial stems and are a key to identifying the plant. From late summer to autumn, it produces masses of small, fragrant, cream-coloured flowers on dependent

racemes A raceme ( or ) or racemoid is an unbranched, indeterminate type of inflorescence bearing flowers having short floral stalks along the shoots that bear the flowers. The oldest flowers grow close to the base and new flowers are produced as the s ...

, which may be up to in length. The plant spreads via the tubers, which detach very easily.

Reproduction

''Anredera cordifolia'' can reproduce through the proliferation of tubers and also from rhizome fragments that may be broken off. Although this species has both male and female flowers they rarely reproduce sexually and produce

seed A seed is an embryonic plant enclosed in a protective outer covering, along with a food reserve. The formation of the seed is a part of the process of reproduction in seed plants, the spermatophytes, including the gymnosperm and angiosper ...

. This species often spreads through its own vegetative growth, but can easily be transported by human activities. If fragments end up in waterways, they are easily transported to new locations in this manner. Seedlings were found well away from habitation, roads and streams in Australia from 1988 onwards, leading to the conclusion that the species produces seeds there.

Range

It is native to Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina in South America. It has been introduced to Africa, the Australasia–Pacific region, Europe, and North America; it is considered an invasive species in many tropical and sub-tropical localities.

Uses

Madeira vine can be cooked by frying with olive oil and garlic.

Invasiveness

Madeira vine can climb 40 m into the tree canopy, smothering and collapsing mature trees. It is listed on the New Zealand

National Pest Plant Accord The National Pest Plant Accord (NPPA) is a New Zealand agreement that identifies pest plants that are prohibited from sale and commercial propagation and distribution. The Accord initially came into effect on 1 October 2001 between regional coun ...

, which limits its cultivation and sale. The Australian Weeds Committee published a Draft Madeira Vine Strategy in August 2012, which is aimed at preventing the spread and reducing the impacts of this vine throughout Australia. Mature vines are controlled using the "scrape and paint" method, where the bark is scraped to expose the

cambium A cambium (plural cambia or cambiums), in plants, is a tissue layer that provides partially undifferentiated cells for plant growth. It is found in the area between xylem and phloem. A cambium can also be defined as a cellular plant tissue from w ...

layer and painted with

herbicide Herbicides (, ), also commonly known as weedkillers, are substances used to control undesired plants, also known as weeds.EPA. February 201Pesticides Industry. Sales and Usage 2006 and 2007: Market Estimates. Summary in press releasMain page f ...

. Follow-up three times a year or more is required. Controlling Madeira vine requires exhaustion of the tuber bank. Foliar spraying of

glyphosate Glyphosate (IUPAC name: ''N''-(phosphonomethyl)glycine) is a broad-spectrum systemic herbicide and crop desiccant. It is an organophosphorus compound, specifically a phosphonate, which acts by inhibiting the plant enzyme 5-enolpyruvylshik ...

360g/L at 1% concentration can manage prostrate growth and newly emerged vines.

References

External links

Anredera cordifolia
Plants For A Future database
Anredera cordifolia (Ten.) Steenis
Medicinal Plant Images Database (School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University) {{Taxonbar, from=Q848254 Basellaceae Tubers Flora of Brazil Garden plants of South America Vines Flora of Malta Invasive plant species in Australia