Cissus verticillata (L.) Nicolson & Jarvis, Vitaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  High risk, score: 12 (Go to the risk assessment).

Other Latin names:  Cissus micrantha Poir.; Cissus sicyoides L.; Viscum verticillatum L.; Vitis sicyoides (L.) Miq.

Common name(s): [more details]

English: princessvine, seasonvine

Habit:  vine

Description:  "Often a very large, woody vine, frequently climbing over tall trees, the stems thick and tough, very flexible; leaves simple, on long or short petioles, oblong-ovate to rounded-ovate, often very asymmetric, 4-16 cm long, obtuse to acuminate, rounded to cordate at the base, coarsely or finely serrate, usually densely pubescent but sometimes almost glabrous; cymes small or large, pedunculate, usually dense and shorter than the opposing leaves, sometimes lax and open, pubescent; flowers green or yellowish green; fruit globose-obovoid, black at maturity, 1-seeded, about 6 mm long in the dry state.  It exhibits a great deal of variation in pubescence and leaf form, as a result of which numerous varieties have been named"  (Standley & Steyermark, 1949; pp. 298-299).

Habitat/ecology:  In Guatemala (native), "common or abundant in dry to wet thickets and forest, 1,200 meters or less"  (Standley & Steyermark, 1949; pp. 298-299).

Propagation:  Seed and rooting from stems and branches.  "The plant emits many long aerial roots that dangle loosely from the tree branches or sometimes strike root in the ground.  If the main stem is cut, the upper part of the plant continues to grow"  (Standley & Steyermark, 1949; pp. 298-299).

Native range:  Florida (U.S.) and the Caribbean; Mexico to Chile and Argentina (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive	Frohlich, Danielle/Lau, Alex (2012) (pp. 48-49) Vouchers cited: C. Trauernicht & M. Clark 192 (BISH), A. lau & D. Frohlich 2010022305 (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island		Bishop Museum (U.S.A. Hawaii. Honolulu.) (1986) (voucher ID: BISH 599075) Taxon name on voucher: Cissus verticillata (L.) Nicolson & Jarvis
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive	Frohlich, Danielle/Lau, Alex (2012) (pp. 48-49) Vouchers cited: D. Orr s.n. (BISH 726216), D. Frohlich, A. Lau, K. Starr & F. Starr 0608101 (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island		Bishop Museum (U.S.A. Hawaii. Honolulu.) (1973) (voucher ID: BISH 403176) Taxon name on voucher: Cissus verticillata (L.) Nicolson & Jarvis

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Costa Rica (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	El Salvador (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Guatemala (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Honduras (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Nicaragua (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Panama (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Chile (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Colombia	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Ecuador (Republic of) (continental)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Perú (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	USA (Florida)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Cissus verticillata, please let us know.