''Mikania'' is a genus of about 450 species of plants in the tribe Eupatorieae within the family Asteraceae. The name honors the Czech botanist Johann Christian Mikan, 1743–1814. Members of the genus are stem twiners and

liana A liana is a long- stemmed, woody vine that is rooted in the soil at ground level and uses trees, as well as other means of vertical support, to climb up to the canopy in search of direct sunlight. The word ''liana'' does not refer to a ta ...

s and are common in the neotropical flora. ''Mikania'' originates from South America. A few species, such as ''

Mikania scandens ''Mikania scandens'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. Its common names include climbing hempvine, climbing hempweed, and louse-plaster. It is native to the eastern and central United States, with its distribution extendin ...

'', are found in temperate areas of North and South America, and nine species are known from the Old World tropics. As with other plants in the tribe Eupatorieae, the flowers have disc florets and no ray florets. The species ''

Mikania laevigata ''Mikania'' is a genus of about 450 species of plants in the tribe Eupatorieae within the family Asteraceae. The name honors the Czech botanist Johann Christian Mikan, 1743–1814. Members of the genus are stem twiners and lianas and are commo ...

'' and ''

Mikania glomerata ''Mikania'' is a genus of about 450 species of plants in the tribe Eupatorieae within the family Asteraceae. The name honors the Czech botanist Johann Christian Mikan, 1743–1814. Members of the genus are stem twiners and lianas and are common ...

'', also known as guaco, are popular in herbal medicine. ''

Mikania micrantha ''Mikania micrantha'' is a tropical plant in the family Asteraceae; known as bitter vine, climbing hemp vine, or American rope. It is also sometimes called mile-a-minute vine (a moniker also used for the unrelated '' Persicaria perfoliata''). I ...

'' is a widespread weed in the tropics. It grows very quickly (as fast as 80 mm in 24 hours for a young plant) and covers other plants. People have looked into controlling it 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 fo ...

s, parasitic plants, fungi and insects.

Selected species

*''

Mikania andrei ''Mikania andrei'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is found only in Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss. References andrei Andrei, And ...

'' ( Ecuador) *''

Mikania batatifolia ''Mikania'' is a genus of about 450 species of plants in the tribe Eupatorieae within the family Asteraceae. The name honors the Czech botanist Johann Christian Mikan, 1743–1814. Members of the genus are stem twiners and lianas and are commo ...

'' ( Florida and West Indies) *''

Mikania capensis ''Mikania'' is a genus of about 450 species of plants in the tribe Eupatorieae within the family Asteraceae. The name honors the Czech botanist Johann Christian Mikan, 1743–1814. Members of the genus are stem twiners and lianas and are commo ...

'' ( Africa) *''

Mikania chimborazensis ''Mikania chimborazensis'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is found only in Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss Habitat destruction (al ...

'' ( Ecuador) *''

Mikania cordifolia ''Mikania'' is a genus of about 450 species of plants in the tribe Eupatorieae within the family Asteraceae. The name honors the Czech botanist Johann Christian Mikan, 1743–1814. Members of the genus are stem twiners and lianas and are commo ...

'' (northern Argentina to southeastern United States ( Texas to Florida)) *''

Mikania cuencana ''Mikania cuencana'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is found only in Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss Habitat destruction (also ter ...

'' ( Ecuador) *''

Mikania harlingii ''Mikania harlingii'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is found only in Ecuador. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland. It is threate ...

'' ( Ecuador) *'' Mikania iodotricha'' ( Ecuador) *'' Mikania iserniana'' ( Ecuador) *''

Mikania jamesonii ''Mikania jamesonii'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is found only in Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss Habitat destruction (also te ...

'' ( Ecuador) *''

'' (widespread weed in many tropical areas including southern Florida) *'' Mikania millei'' ( Ecuador) *''

Mikania natalensis ''Mikania natalensis'', the Natal mikania, is a plant in the family Asteraceae, and is native to Africa. Description ''Mikania natalensis'' is a herbaceous, vigorous perennial climber. The leaves are opposite and well spaced. The leaf stalk is ...

'' ( Africa) *''

Mikania oreophila ''Mikania oreophila'' is a plant species native to southern Brazil. It has been collected from highland areas in the States of Rio Grande do Sul, Paraná, Santa Catarina and São Paulo from elevations up to 1300 m. ''Mikania oreophila'' is a t ...

'' ( Brazil) *''

Mikania pulverulenta ''Mikania pulverulenta'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is found only in Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss Habitat destruction (also ...

'' (Ecuador) *''

Mikania seemannii ''Mikania seemannii'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is found only in Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss Habitat destruction (also te ...

'' ( Ecuador) *''

'' ( Mexico, Bahamas, and eastern United States as far north as Maine + Michigan) *''

Mikania stereolepis ''Mikania stereolepis'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is found only in Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss. References stereolepis ...

'' ( Ecuador) *''

Mikania tafallana ''Mikania tafallana'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is found only in Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss Habitat destruction (also te ...

'' ( Ecuador)

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2698264 Asteraceae genera Flora of South America Taxa named by Carl Ludwig Willdenow