Introduced Species Summary
Project
Bittervine (Mikania micrantha)
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Common Name:
Bittervine (Mile-a-minute, American rope, Chinese creeper)
Scientific Name: Mikania micrantha
Classification:
Phylum or Division: Magnoliophyta
– Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida
– Dicotyledons
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
(alt. Compositae)
Genus: Mikania
Identification: Creeping or twining perennial vine that can grow up to 27 millimeters a day in tropical climate. It is characterized by branched stems on which heart-shaped or triangular leaves are arranged in opposite pairs. The leaves are thin, generally with an acute tip and a broad base and measure from 4 to 13 cm long. The plant produces white to greenish-white flowers, in heads 3 to 5 millimeter long, arranged in dense terminal or axillary corymbs. A single plant can cover over 25 square meters within a few months, reproducing rapidly vegetatively by rooting and sexually by dispersing some 40,000 seeds per year. The seed is black, linear-oblong, five-angled and about 2 mm long. Dispersal is facilitated by a terminal pappus of 32 to 38 soft white bristles which can carry the seed large distances on air currents and attach itself to the hair of animals. This weed grows best in soils rich in organic matter and sunny areas of high humidity. It is found in disturbed forest, stream banks, roadsides, pastures, plantations and cultivated crops. Although it does not like deep shade, it tolerates shaded locations, growing rapidly over shrubs and trees in disturbed forested environments.
Original Distribution: Native to Central and
Current Distribution: It has been reported as a
weed in
Site and Date of Introduction: The Bittervine is
believed to have been introduced to
Mode(s) of Introduction: The weed was introduced to
Reason(s) Why it has Become
Established:
The plant is adapted to a wide range of habitats and can grow easily from the
tiniest fragment of vine as well as from seed.
The vine will root readily when in contact with moist soil or when left
on plant debris and will grow at an extraordinary rate once established,
climbing on any vertical support it finds in its way. The plant also produces a high output of
viable seeds that can spread a wide geographic range through air currents and
can readily germinate on any moist bare soil. The vigor and adaptability
of Mikania
micrantha may be attributable to a high biochemical capacity for photosynthesis. In a study conducted in South China,
comparing M. micrantha to M. cordata, an indigenous but non invasive vine, it was shown that M. micrantha had higher Vcmax
and Jmax than M. cordata allowing it to acclimate to brighter
environments and a larger pool of available carbon.
Ecological Role: The ecological role of the Bittervine is not well documented although it has been
reported to be used as a ground cover and suitable for grazing and animal
feed. It is therefore likely that the
plant could be a food source for wild fauna.
Benefit(s): There are few published uses for this plant as
most of the literature focus on its invasive nature. However, aside from its possible use for
animal grazing, the plant has been reported to be used for medicinal purposes by curanderos (healers) of
Indians and other ethnic groups throughout
Threat(s): Once established, Mikania micrantha spreads at an alarming rate, quickly colonizing
gaps in disturbed environments, ultimately damaging or killing other plants by
cutting out their light or smothering them.
In addition to competing with other plants for water and nutrients, it
is also believed to interfere with the nitrification process and to release substances that inhibit the growth of other plants.
Its impact in many tropical regions has escalated due to widespread
cutting and degradation of natural forests. Initially colonizing the degraded
forestland, it then invades adjoining gardens, causing severe damage to natural
forest ecosystems as well as agro-forestry, home-gardens and plantations. In
Control Level Diagnosis: "Highest Priority
"
Eleven
Control Method:
Physical: Physical control is difficult since the seeds
disperse easily and vines root readily in contact with moist soil. Repeated slashing or mowing, before the plant
flowers and during periods of reduced growth (in regions with a dry or cooler
season) can help control the spreading of the plant but will not eliminate
it.
Chemical:
Herbicides seem to provide the only suitable method of control at present. However, spreading herbicides to large
forested area for example is not always feasible and can be damaging to the
environment if applied in large quantities. The allelopathic
potential of other plants against Mikania micrantha seedlings is being
evaluated and it was found that the leaves and flowers of the flame tree
(Delonix regia) showed strong phytotoxicity.
It may therefore be possible to use allelochemicals as a natural
herbicide to control the vine.
Biological: A number of very promising natural
enemies of Mikania micrantha are
known in Central and
Works
Cited
The Global Invasive Species Database (Invasive Species
Specialist Group (ISSG) of the IUCN Species Survival Commission http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=42&fr=1&sts
Deng
et al. (2004): Gas exchange characteristics of an invasive weed species and its
indigenous congener. Bot. Bull. Acad. Sin. 45: 213-220.
Kuo, Yau-Lun. Ecological
characteristics of three invasive plants (leucaena leucocephala, mikania
micrantha, and stachytarpheta urticaefolia) in southern taiwan, National Pingtung Univ. of Science and Technology 1 Hsuehfu Rd., Neipu,
Pingtung 912, Taiwan
Plant
Health Inspection Service (APHIS),
United
States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conversation Service http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=MIMI5
Public
Health Service, National Institutes of Health,
Raghubanshi,
A. S., L. C. Rai,
J. P. Gaur and J. S. Singh. (2005). Invasive alien species and biodiversity in
Scher, Julia. Federal Noxious
Weed Disseminules
of the
Author: Violaine
Haeringer
Last
Edited:
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