14 Jan Madeira vine
Anredera cordifolia
Madeira Vine is a devastating weed capable of
smothering host vegetation in a relatively short
period of time. The masses of fleshy leaves
become very heavy and can break branches in
large trees destroying the upper canopy.
Family: Basellaceae
Origin: South America
Habit: Vigorous, robust fleshy and extensive twining, hairless,
perennial climber in excess of 30m.
Leaves: Fleshy broadly egg or heart shaped, alternately arranged and
bright green.
Flowers: Small, fragrant, creamy white coloured and numerous in
drooping clusters to 20cm long. Separate flowers on stalks
evenly spaced along a central stem. Spring-Summer.
Fruit: Rarely fruits.
Roots: Fleshy and tuberous. Tubers are capable of sprouting even
after being pulverised.
Dispersal: Spread and tubers transported by contaminated soil (earthmoving
equipment, car tyres etc), garden refuse dumping and water, such
as along rivers in floods. Aerial tubers will be shed from stems if
the vine is cut, and remain viable in soil from 5 to 10 years.
Control: Hand Dig, Scrape and Paint, Foliar spray. *Never Cut and Paint.
