14 Jan Moth vine
Araujia sericifera
Garden escapee that smothers shrubs and
small trees, depressing their growth. Weed of
wasteland and forests adjoining settlement,
mainly in coastal higher rainfall areas.
Family: Asclepiadaceae
Origin: Southern Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay
Habit: Twining perennial climber reaching up to 6 m on supporting
vegetation. Milky latex exuded from damaged stems and leaves
Leaves: Opposite, oblong to triangular, 3–11 cm long, 1–6 cm wide, dark
green above, grey-green below.
Flowers: Fragrant, tubular, 0.8–1.4 cm long, 5-lobed, 5-stamens, white
to pale pink in groups of 2–5. Flowers late spring to autumn.
Fruit: Grey-green choko shaped pod, turning brown and woody
with age, opening to release numerous black seeds aprox
4 mm long each possessing a tuft of white silky hairs that
aid its spread by wind.
Roots: Shallow and fibrous.
Dispersal: Seeds spread by wind, water and contaminated soil
(earthmoving equipment, car tyres etc)
Control: Hand pull/Dig, Scrape and Paint, skirting, foliar spray for seedlings.
