Macfadyena unguis-cati (L.) A.H.Gentry, Bignoniaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  High risk, score: 17 (Go to the risk assessment)

Other Latin names:  Bignonia unguis-cati L.; Dolichandra unguis-cati (L.) L. G. Lohmann; Doxantha unguis-cati (L.) Miers

Common name(s): [more details]

English: cat's claw climber, cat's-claw, cat's-claw vine, catclaw-creeper, catclaw-trumpet, funnel creeper, funnel-creeper, macfadyena, yellow trumpet vine

French: griffe à chatte, griffe chatte, liane patate, patte d'oiseau

Spanish: bejuco de gato, paz y justicia, uña de gato

Habit:  vine

Description:  "Lianas up to 15 m or more long, often rooting at the nodes, glabrous or nearly so.  Leaves drying dark green to nearly black, dimorphic, juvenile plants with small leaflets 1-2 cm long, 0.4-0.8 cm wide, mature leaflets narrowly ovate to lanceolate, 5-16 cm long, 1.2-6.9 cm wide, both surfaces sparsely lepidote, tendril deciduous, 3-forked, 0.1-3.5 cm long, each fork bearing a small horny hook.  Flowers usually in axillary clusters of 1-3 (-15); calyx cup-like, 0.1-1.8 cm long, glabrous to sparsely lepidote, margins crenulate-undulate; corolla yellow with ca 9 orange lines in the threat, tubular-campanulate, 4.5-10 cm long, 1.2-2.4 cm wide at the mouth, the tube 3.3-6.9 cm long, puberulent within along the throat ridges.  Capsules drying blackish, linear, flattened, tapering at both ends, 26-95 cm long, 1-2 cm in diameter, inconspicuously lepidote.  Seeds 1-1.8 cm long, 4.2-5.8 cm wide, the wings membranous, not sharply demarcated from the seed body"  (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 388).

Habitat/ecology:  "It prefers fertile, well drained soils, but appears to tolerate most soil types, particularly alluvial soils.  Root tubers and stolons form in the plant's second year and can subsequently form at each leaf node while the vine is prostrate.  As such, the plant can form a dense mat which carpets the forest floor.  The vine climbs standing vegetation and can smother native trees and shrubs.  It has invaded riparian vegetation in south-east, coastal Queensland and in north-east, coastal New South Wales.  Plant communities at risk include riparian and rainforest communities in sub-tropical and tropical zones..." (Csurhes and Edwards, 1998; p. 116).

"In Puerto Rico, cat's claw grows from near sea level to over 600 m in elevation and in sites that receive mean annual rainfalls from about 750 to about 2400 mm. It will tolerate most soils, except very poorly drained and salty soils. The species can tolerate a few degrees of frost, being killed to the ground but resprouting afterward (Watkins and Sheehan 1975). Cat's claw is moderately shade tolerant as a young plant and grows in both full sun and under forest canopies. It may be less shade tolerant as an adult. The species is common in savannas, secondary forest, and remnant high forest. It can survive grazing and fire but is eliminated by deep grass swards"  (Wildland shrubs of the United States and its territories).

In Hawai‘i, "cultivated as an ornamental and sparingly naturalized"  (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 388). In New Caledonia, "et très envahissant" (MacKee, 1994; p. 22).

Propagation:  "The winged seeds are dispersed by the wind. Seedlings are common and widespread in suitable habitat. Young plants sprout when damaged and layer (root) whenever stems touch the ground"  (Wildland shrubs of the United States and its territories).

Native range:  Mexico and the West Indies to Argentina (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 388).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island	cultivated	McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 11)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Weno (Moen) Island	introduced invasive	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, M.-H./Oliver, R. L. (1993) (p. 9) Voucher cited: Fosberg 60330 (US, BISH, POM)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Weno (Moen) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1980) (voucher ID: BISH 561220) Taxon name on voucher: Macfadyena unguis-cati (L.) A.H.Gentry
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Cultivée
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Wagner, W. L./ Herbst, D. R./Weitzman, A./Lorence, D.H. (2013)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive	Imada, Clyde T./Staples, George W./Herbst, Derral R. (2000) (p. 11) Voucher cited: C. Imada & K. Arakaki 99-46 (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive	Starr, Forest/Martz, Kim/Loope, Lloyd L. (2002) (p. 19) Voucher cited: Starr & Martz 000620-1 (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 388)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Lāna‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 388)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive	Oppenheimer, Hank L./Bartlett, R. T. (2000) (pp. 2-3) West Maui. Voucher cited: Oppenheimer H89936 (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 388)
New Caledonia New Caledonia	New Caledonia Islands	introduced invasive	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2000) (p. 100) "Dry forests"
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	Gargominy, Oliver/Bouchet, Philipe/Pascal, Michel/Jaffre, Tanguy/Tourneu, Jean-Christophe (1996) (p. 379) Très envahissante à Yahoué.
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 22) Vouchers cited: Baumann 7430, MacKee 15889, MacKee 26570, MacKee 42318
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (p. 5)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara M./Newfield, Melanie/Bull, Cate (2004) (pp. 11-12)
Vanuatu New Hebrides Islands	Êfaté (Efete) Island	introduced invasive	Orapa, Warea (year unknown) Communication to Aliens listserver.

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	New South Wales	introduced invasive cultivated	Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. (1998) (p. 116)
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	introduced invasive cultivated	Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. (1998) (p. 116)
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)	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)
China China	Hong Kong	introduced cultivated	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 257)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
New Zealand New Zealand	New Zealand (country)	introduced invasive cultivated	Webb, C. J./Sykes, W. R./Garnock-Jones, P. J. (1988) (p. 263) Collected once in wild but likely to naturalize.
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced cultivated	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 58) Cultivated only
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)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
La Réunion (France) La Réunion Island	La Réunion Island	introduced invasive	Lavergne, Christophe (2006) "Envahissant"
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	introduced	Invasive Species Specialist Group (2017)

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)	United States (other states)	introduced invasive	Staples, George W./Herbst, Derral R. (2005) (p. 183) "Becoming a weed along the U.S. Gulf coast".
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	USA (Florida)	introduced invasive	Staples, George W./Herbst, Derral R. (2005) (p. 183)

Comments:  Reported moderately invasive in New Caledonia (Meyer, 2000; p. 100).

A serious environmental weed in sub-tropical northeast New South Wales and southeast Queensland (Barbara Waterhouse, pers.com.)

"Still very restricted to an old military base called Port Havanna on Efate. Suspected of been introduced from New World as military camouflage." (Warea Orapa, communication to Aliens listserver).

Two infestations noted on Niue (Space et al., 2004).

Planting of this species is prohibited in Miami-Dade County, Florida (U.S.) (Miami-Dade County Dept. of Planning and Zoning, 2010).

Control: 

Physical:  Difficult because of root tubers and rooting from pieces.  "Vélez and van Overbeek (1950) report that older plants are killed by simply cutting the stems"  (Wildland shrubs of the United States and its territories).  "Hand pull or dig out small plants (all year round): small infestations only, ensuring removal of all stems, roots and tubers. Dispose of all plant material at a refuse transfer station"  (Weedbusters New Zealand).

Chemical:  "1. Cut and stump paint (spring-summer): cut vines near the base and paint the cut stump with undiluted glyphosate. Leave the vine in the canopy to die, ensuring no vines are touching the ground. Regrowth from stumps can be sprayed with glyphosate (20ml/1L) + penetrant.
2. Overall spray (spring-summer): use for ground layer carpets of vines, glyphosate (20ml/1L) + penetrant"  (Weedbusters New Zealand).

Biological:  Charidotis auroguttata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae; Cassidinae) has been proposed for introduction to Australia (Tanya Rough, communications to Aliens listserver).