Anredera cordifolia (Ten.) Steenis, Basellaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  High risk, score: 20 (Go to the risk assessment).

Other Latin names:  Boussingaultia baselloides H.B.K.; Boussingaultia cordifolia Ten.

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: luo kui shu

English: lamb's tails, Madeira vine, mignonette vine

Hawaiian: ‘uala hūpē

Maori (Cook Islands): pia, tāpau

Niuean: filikafa

Rapa Nui: luna luna

Spanish: enredadera del mosquito, parra de Madeira

Habit:  vine

Description:  "Stems climbing, slender and often reddish.  Leaves subsessile or with petiole to 1-(2) cm long, commonly with small irregular tubers in their axils.  Lamina 2-11-(13) x 1.75-10-(11) cm, broadly ovate, often involute, scarcely succulent to succulent according to degree of exposure, shining; base subcordate or cordate; apex obtuse.  Racemes simple or 2-4-branched, pendent, to ca 18 cm long excluding common peduncle, with numerous small, white, fragrant flowers.  Pedicels 2-3 mm long; bracts 1.5-1.8 mm long, lanceolate-subulate.  Lower bracteoles 0.5-1 mm long, cupulate; upper bracteoles ca 2-2.5 mm long, suborbicular.  Tepals 2-3 mm long, elliptic-oblong to broadly elliptic.  Filaments narrow-triangular, widely divergent, bending outwards near base.  Style 1, shorter than stamens; branches 1/2-3/4 length of fused part; stigmas clavate"  (Webb et al., 1988; pp. 352-353).

"Liane herbacée pérenne et grimpante, atteignant 3 à 6 m de long, reconnaissable à ses feuilles un peu charnues de forme ovale ou en coeur, ses inflorescences composées de petites fleurs blanches.et ses tubercules aériens (« aerial tubers » en anglais) qui pendent des tiges" (Meyer, 2008; p. 21).

Habitat/ecology:  "...in Queensland and New South Wales [Australia], it is a weed of riparian vegetation, the edges of rainforest, tall open forest and damp sclerophyll forests". (Csurhes & Edwards, 1998; p. 93).  "A devastating weed which invades moist forest and rainforest edges, blankets the ground and envelops the canopy, restricts light, encourages disease, prevents germination of native plants. Weight can break down trees. Helps to destroy rainforest"  (Weeds of Blue Mountains bushland).  In New Zealand, "Waste land, especially scrub-covered areas such as coastal gullies. Where it has become naturalised its smothering habit makes it a nuisance and this is even more true on tropical Pacific Islands to the north [of New Zealand]" (Webb et al., 1988; pp 352-353).  In Hawai‘i, "commonly cultivated and often escaping, now sparingly naturalized"  (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 381, 1864). In New Caledonia, "aujourd'hui assez rare en terrains vagues et fourrés secondaires" (MacKee, 1994; p. 21).

Propagation:  "Stems bear thousands of long-lived aerial tubers which form clusters high in the vine. Underground tubers, which may be football sized, grow on rhizomes up to a metre deep.  Grows from both kinds of tuber and from pieces of rhizome. Rarely produces seed. Often dumped on bushland edges. Both tubers and rhizomes can be washed down waterways"  (Weeds of Blue Mountains bushland).  Cultivated as an ornamental and thus spread by humans.

"La croissance de ses tiges en climat chaud et humide peut atteindre 1 m par semaine, ses tubercules peuvent survivre plus de 5 ans avec des densités de plus de 1500 tubercules par m². Elle est également capable de se reproduire végétativement par fragmentation des tiges et des racines" (Meyer, 2008; p. 21).

Native range:  Tropical South America.

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia (Pacific offshore islands) Lord Howe Island	Lord Howe Island	introduced	Pickard, J. (1984) (p. 206)
Australia (Pacific offshore islands) Lord Howe Island	Lord Howe Island	introduced invasive	Orchard, Anthony E., ed. (1994) (p. 19) "An escape from cultivation, easily spreading and propagating itself by means of the stem tubers". Vouchers cited: A.N. Rodd 1715 (NSW)
Australia (Pacific offshore islands) Norfolk Islands	Norfolk Island	introduced invasive	Orchard, Anthony E., ed. (1994) (p. 8) "An escape from cultivation, easily spreading and propagating itself by means of the stem tubers". Vouchers cited: W.R. Sykes NI 608 (CHR), W.R. Sykes NI 797 (CHR)
Chile (offshore islands) Rapa Nui (Easter) Island	Rapa Nui (Easter) Island (Isla de Pasqua)	introduced invasive	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2008) (pp. 21, 28) "Lors de cette mission, nous l’avons observé subspontanée ou naturalisée dans les jardins et en bordure de route du village de Hanga Roa, grimpant sur les murs, les clôtures et les arbres. Elle est également naturalisée dans le jardin de la CONAF à Mataveri et présente un début d’invasion sévère dans le jardin botanique de Vaitea où des tapis denses de plantules ont été observés" (Meyer, 2008; p. 21).
Chile (offshore islands) Juan Fernández Islands	Isla Más a Tierra (Robinson Crusoe Island)	introduced invasive cultivated	Atkinson, Rachel/Sawyer, John (2011)
Chile (offshore islands) Juan Fernández Islands	Isla Más a Tierra (Robinson Crusoe Island)	introduced invasive cultivated	Danton, Philippe/Perrier, Christophe/Martinez Reyes, Guido (2006) (pp. 474, 520, 551) Voucher cited: Danton C(806)704
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island		McCormack, Gerald (2011)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 84)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Ma‘uke Island		McCormack, Gerald (2011)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		McCormack, Gerald (2011)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. Field notes.) Voucher: Flynn 7004 (PTBG, BISH, US)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1929) (voucher ID: BISH 133662) Taxon name on voucher: Anredera cordifolia (Ten.) Steenis
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2002) (voucher ID: PTBG 343) Taxon name on voucher: Anredera cordifolia
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1970) (voucher ID: BISH 147529) Taxon name on voucher: Anredera cordifolia (Ten.) Steenis
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (p. 87)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 381) Sparingly naturalized.
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaho‘olawe Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 381) Sparingly naturalized.
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 381) Sparingly naturalized.
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Lāna‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Nagata, Kenneth M. (1995) (p. 11) Voucher cited: Nagata 3502 (HLA) At the edge of pineapple fields.
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 381) Sparingly naturalized.
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Moloka‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 381) Sparingly naturalized.
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Ni‘ihau Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 381) Sparingly naturalized.
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 381) Voucher cited: Neal 1182 (BISH) Sparingly naturalized.
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 21) Vouchers cited: MacKee 12139, MacKee 16239, MacKee 29740
New Zealand (offshore islands) Kermadec Islands	Kermadec Islands	introduced invasive	Webb, C. J./Sykes, W. R./Garnock-Jones, P. J. (1988) (pp. 352-353) "Waste land, especially scrub-covered areas such as coastal gullies".
New Zealand (offshore islands) Kermadec Islands	Raoul Island	introduced invasive	Sykes, W. R. (1977) (pp. 77-78)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced cultivated	Sykes, W. R. (1970) (p. 50) Vouchers cited: CHR 168867, CHR 168871
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Yuncker, T. G. (1943) (p. 53) Vouchers cited: Yuncker 10156 (BISH), Yuncker 10211 (BISH) "Growing in thickets on cliffs near the sea".
Pitcairn Islands Pitcairn Islands	Pitcairn Island	introduced invasive cultivated	St. John, H. (1987) (p. 33) as Boussingaultia gracilis Miers, f pseudobaselloides Hauman; voucher cited: Fosberg & B. Christian 11209
Pitcairn Islands Pitcairn Islands	Pitcairn Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J. (2004) (p. 87)
Pitcairn Islands Pitcairn Islands	Pitcairn Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2011) Naturalisée

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	Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. (1998) (p. 93)
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	introduced invasive	Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. (1998) (p. 93)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	introduced cultivated	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2011)
China China	Hong Kong	introduced	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 80)
Japan Japan	Japan (country)	introduced	Mito, Toshikazu/Uesugi, Tetsuro (2004) (p. 181) As Boussingaultia cordifolia Ten.
New Zealand New Zealand	New Zealand (country)	introduced invasive	Owen, S. J. (1997)
New Zealand New Zealand	New Zealand (country)	introduced invasive	Webb, C. J./Sykes, W. R./Garnock-Jones, P. J. (1988) (pp. 352-353)
Perú Perú	Perú (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)

Comments:  A serious problem on the Kermadec Islands (Raoul). A weed species in Australia and New Zealand.

Control: 

Physical:  "Manual removal must include the removal of all tubers".  "Pull plant (all year round), burn all parts or place all parts in black plastic bags and leave to 'cook' in sun.  Do not dump aerial tubers in the sea, as they sprout wherever they wash up"  (Weedbusters New Zealand).

"La lutte physique et chimique est difficile en raison de ses capacités de reproduction végétative par tubercules. La pose d’une bâche en plastique sous les lianes lors de la coupe manuelle est recommandée afin de récupérer tous les tubercules aériens et les tiges coupées" (Meyer, 2008; p. 21).

Chemical:  "Effective chemical control is done by applying glyphosate or fluoroxypyr.  Repeated applications are necessary to achieve long-term control"  (Weber, 2003; p. 48).

"1. Cut down and paint stump (all year round): metsulferon-methyl 600g/kg (1g /L) or glyphosate (100ml/L) or Tordon Brushkiller (100ml/L) or triclopyr 600 EC (100ml/L) or Yates Hydrocotyle Killer (500ml/L). Pull out and rake up all aerial tubers, burn on site or 'cook' in black plastic bags left in the sun.
2. Spray (spring to autumn): 3g metsulferon-methyl 600g/kg + 100ml glyphosate + 10ml penetrant/10L (knapsack) or 30g metsulferon-methyl 600g/kg + 1L glyphosate + 100ml penetrant/100L (spraygun)"  (Weedbusters New Zealand).

"La lutte chimique consiste en la pulvérisation d’un herbicide (glyphosate) sur les feuilles avant la maturation des tubercules, la coupe et le traitement chimique des liane (triclopyr), et le trempage des tubercules dans du glyphosate" (Meyer, 2008; p. 21).

Additional information:
Report (PDF format) from US Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division, Haleakala Field Station, Hawaii "Plants of Hawaii".
Fact sheet, including control information, from the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, New Zealand.
Information from the Global Invasive Species Database.
Fact sheet from the Government of Queensland, Australia. (PDF format).
Information and photos at Weeds of Blue Mountains bushland.
Information sheet from Weedbusters New Zealand.

Additional online information about Anredera cordifolia is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).

Information about Anredera cordifolia as a weed (worldwide references) may be available from the Global Compendium of Weeds (GCW).

Taxonomic information about Anredera cordifolia may be available from the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).

References:

Atkinson, Rachel/Sawyer, John. 2011. Naturalized species in the Juan Fernández Archipelago, Chile. Unpublished spreadsheet.

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1929. Voucher specimen #BISH 133662 (Wilder, G.P. 868).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1970. Voucher specimen #BISH 147529 (Parham, B. 17392).

Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. 1998. Potential environmental weeds in Australia: Candidate species for preventative control. Canberra, Australia. Biodiversity Group, Environment Australia. 208 pp.

Danton, Philippe/Perrier, Christophe/Martinez Reyes, Guido. 2006. Nouveau catalogue de la flore vaculaire de l'archipel Juan Fernández (Chile) [Nuevo catálogo de la flora vacular del Archipélago Juan Fernández (Chile)]. Acta Bot. Gallica 153(4):399-587.

Florence, J. 2004. Flore de la Polynésie française, Vol. 2. Paris. IRE Editions, Publications Scientifiques, Collection Faune et Flore Tropicales 41. 503 pp.

Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. 2011. Base de données botaniques Nadeaud de l'Herbier de la Polynésie Française (PAP). (online resource).

Harley, Barbara. 2009. Weeds of Blue Mountains bushland. (online resource).

MacKee, H. S. 1994. Catalogue des plantes introduites et cultivées en Nouvelle-Calédonie. Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, 164 p.

McCormack, Gerald. 2011. Cook Islands Biodiversity Database, Version 2007.2. Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust, Rarotonga.

Meyer, Jean-Yves. 2008. Rapport de mission d'expertise a Rapa Nui du 02 au 11 Juin 2008: Plan d'action strategique pour lutter contre les plantes introduites envahissantes sur Rapa Nui (Île de pâques) [Strategic action plan to control invasive alien plants on Rapa Nui (Easter Island) [unpublished report]. Délégation à la Recherche, Ministère de l'Education, l'Enseignement supérieur et la Recherche, B.P. 20981 Papeete, Tahiti, Polynésie française. 62 pp. .

Mito, Toshikazu/Uesugi, Tetsuro. 2004. Invasive alien species in Japan: the status quo and the new regulation for prevention of their adverse effects. Global Environmental Research 8(2)/2004: 171-191.

Nagata, Kenneth M. 1995. New Hawaiian plant records IV. In: Evenhuis, Neal L. and Miller, Scott, E., eds. Records of the Hawaii Biological Survey for 1994. Part 2: Notes. Bishop Museum Occasional Papers. 42:10-13.

National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.). 2002. Voucher specimen #PTBG343(Tim Flynn 7004).

Orchard, Anthony E., ed. 1994. Flora of Australia. Vol. 49, Oceanic islands 1. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.

Owen, S. J. 1997. Ecological weeds on conservation land in New Zealand: A database. Working draft. Wellington, New Zealand. Department of Conservation.

Pickard, J. 1984. Exotic plants on Lord Howe Island: Distribution in space and time, 1853-1981. J. of Biogeography 11:181-208.

Space, James C./Flynn, Tim. 2002. Report to the Government of the Cook Islands on invasive plant species of environmental concern. USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 146 pp.

St. John, H. 1987. An account of the flora of Pitcairn Island with new Pandanus species. Pacific Plant Studies 46. Honolulu, 65 pp. [Privately published].

Sykes, W. R. 1970. Contributions to the flora of Niue. New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Bulletin 200, Wellington. 321 pp.

Sykes, W. R. 1977. Kermadec Islands flora: an annotated checklist. New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Bulletin 219, Wellington. 216 pp.

U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. 2011. National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online searchable database.

Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. 1999. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawaii. Revised edition. Bernice P. Bishop Museum special publication. University of Hawai‘i Press/Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 1919 pp. (two volumes).

Webb, C. J./Sykes, W. R./Garnock-Jones, P. J. 1988. Flora of New Zealand, Volume IV: Naturalised pteridophytes, gymnosperms, dicotyledons. Botany Division, DSIR, Christchurch. 1365 pp.

Weber, Ewald. 2003. Invasive plants of the World. CABI Publishing, CAB International, Wallingford, UK. 548 pp.

Wu, Te-lin. 2001. Check List of Hong Kong Plants. Hong Kong Herbarium and the South China Institute of Botany. Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department Bulletin 1 (revised). 384 pp.

Yuncker, T. G. 1943. The flora of Niue Island. Bishop Mus. Bull. 178. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 126 pp.

Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong. 2011. Flora of China (online resource).