Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Hook. f. & Thomson, Menispermaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Cocculus cordifolius (Willd.) DC.; Menispermum cordifolium Willd.

Common name(s): [more details]

English: Indian tinospora, gulancha tinospora, heart-leaved tinospora, moonseed

French: guduchi, tinofolin

Thai: ching cha chali

Habit:  vine

Description:  "A large, deciduous extensively spreading climbing shrub with several elongated, twining branches.  Leaves simple, alternate, exstipulate, long petioles up to 15 cm long, roundish, pulvinate, both at the base and apex with the basal one longer and twisted partially and half way around.  Lamina broadly ovate or ovate cordate, 10-20 cm long or 8-15 cm broad, 7-nerved and deeply cordate at base, membranous, pubescent above, white tomentose with a prominent reticulum beneath.  Flowers unisexual, small on separate plants and appearing when plant is leafless, greenish yellow on axillary and terminal racemes.  Male flowers clustered, female usually solitary.  Sepals 6, free in two series of 3 each, the outer ones are smaller than the inner.  Petals 6, free, smaller than the sepals, obovate and membranous.  Fruits aggregate of 1-3, ovoid smooth drupelets on thick stalk with subterminal style scars, scarlet or orange colored"  (Sinha et al., 2004; pp. 257-258).

"Bark corky; shoots glabrous. Leaves 2-4 in. in diameter, acute or acuminate; petiole 1 1/2 - 3 in. Racemes exceeding the leaves, axillary, terminal or on the old wood; bracts subulate. Flowers yellow, males fascicled, females usually solitary, glabrous. Petals cuneate. Anthers oblong. Drupes size of a pea or small cherry, red"  (Hooker, 1987; vol. 1, p. 97).

Habitat/ecology:  "The plant is distributed throughout the tropical region of India up to 1,200 m above sea level.  It is a fairly common plant of deciduous and dry forests, growing over hedges and small trees"  (Sinha et al., 2004; p. 258).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Bangladesh; India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced invasive	Moore, Aubrey (2012)

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)	Australia (continental)	introduced invasive	Randall, R. P. (2007) (p. 477)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Tinospora cordifolia, please let us know.