Code
MIKMI
Growth form
Climber
Biological cycle
perennial
Habitat
terrestrial
synonym | Eupatorium denticulatum Vahl |
synonym | Eupatorium orinocense (Kunth) Gómez de la Maza |
synonym | Eupatorium orinocense (Kunth) M.Gómez |
synonym | Eupatorium orinocense var. batataefolium (DC.) M.Gómez |
synonym | Eupatorium orinocense var. tamoides (DC.) M.Gómez |
synonym | Kleinia alata G. Meyer |
synonym | Kleinia alata G.Mey. |
synonym | Mikania alata (G.Mey.) DC. |
synonym | Mikania batatifolia DC. |
synonym | Mikania cissampelina DC. |
synonym | Mikania cordata var. indica Kitam. |
synonym | Mikania deltoides Poepp. ex Spreng. |
synonym | Mikania denticulata (Vahl) Willd. |
synonym | Mikania glechomaefolia Sch.Bip. ex Baker |
synonym | Mikania glechomaefolia Sch.Bip. ex Baker [Illegitimate] |
synonym | Mikania glechomifolia Sch.Bip. ex Baker |
synonym | Mikania micrantha (Hieron.) B.L.Rob. |
synonym | Mikania micrantha f. hirsuta (Hieron.) B.L.Rob. |
synonym | Mikania micrantha f. micrantha |
synonym | Mikania micrantha var. micrantha |
synonym | Mikania orinocensis Kunth |
synonym | Mikania scandens var. alata (G.Mey.) Baker |
synonym | Mikania scandens var. cynanchifolia Hook. & Arn. ex Baker |
synonym | Mikania scandens var. sagittifolia Hassl. |
synonym | Mikania scandens var. subcymosa (Gardner) Baker |
synonym | Mikania scandens var. umbellifera (Gardner) Baker |
synonym | Mikania sinuata Rusby |
synonym | Mikania subcrenata Hook. & Arn. |
synonym | Mikania subcymosa Gardner |
synonym | Mikania tamoides DC. |
synonym | Mikania umbellifera Gardner |
synonym | Mikania variabilis Meyen & Walp. |
synonym | Willoughbya cissampelina (DC.) Kuntze |
synonym | Willoughbya heterophylla Small |
synonym | Willoughbya micrantha (Kunth) Rusby |
synonym | Willoughbya scandens var. orinocensis (Kunth) Kuntze |
synonym | Willoughbya variabilis (Meyen & Walp.) Kuntze |
Creoles and pidgins; French-based |
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Créole Maurice |
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Créole Réunion |
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English |
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French |
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Indonesian |
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Malay |
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Spanish; Castilian |
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Global description
Mikania micrantha is a perennial herbaceous vine, climbing, variable development, sparse pubescence nearly hairless. It can measure 3-6 m long. The stems are slender, hexagonal, often highly branched and intertwined, yellowish to brown. The leaves are simple, opposite, petiole long and hail. The leaf blade is broadly ovate or triangular, with acute apex and deeply cordate base and attenuated, virtually glabrous or underside with sparse hairs. The flowers are grouped by 4 small heads whitish to greenish white, arranged in inflorescences repeatedly branched, carried by a long stalk. Dry fruits are black, oblong with 4-5 ribs and truncated at the top.
Attributions | |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Although it blooms all year, Mikania micrantha exhibits abundant flowering during short-length days. During this period, the flowers are visited by numerous flower-eating insects feeding on nectar.
China: Mikania micrantha flowers and fruits all year round.
Nicaragua: Mikania micrantha flowers and fruits all year round.
Pacific: Mikania micrantha flowers during the dry season (September to October) and bears fruit from November to February.
West Indies: Mikania micrantha flowers and fruits almost all year round.
Attributions | Wiktrop |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Attributions | |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Taxonomic problems between Mikania cordata, M. micrantha (present in the 4 DOM) and M. scandens
Many publications from before 1980/1990 referring to Mikania cordata and M. scandens in Asia probably refer to M. micrantha, whereas those from West Africa concerning M. cordata are probably correct.
M. micrantha (originating from South America) was probably introduced into Taiwan in the 1990s but was only discovered there in 2001 due to a
misidentification with the native M. cordata.
The Mikania genus consists of 250 species of lianas, most of which are native to tropical America. These species have a kind of stipule inserted between the petioles at the nodes giving rise to young shoots. These structures tend to whiten on the branches as they age and are absent from the flowering branches.
Interspecific differences in the shape of these stipules as well as some other criteria distinguish the species:
M. cordata: stipules not membranous and ear-shaped; 40-45 bristles make up the achene's pappus. Distribution Temperate and tropical Asia, Pacific
M. micrantha: membranous, semi-translucent stipules; 32 to 38 bristles make up the achene's pappus. Distribution: tropical and central America.
M. scandens : White, slightly purplish flowers; 30 to 35 bristles make up the achene pappus. Distribution: Eastern North America.
In addition, the inflorescences of M. cordata are larger than those of M. micrantha.
Attributions | Wiktrop |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Mikania micrantha can easily be confused with Mikania cordata (Burm.f.) B.L.Rob., especially in South East Asia where both species occur. The criteria for distinguishing these two species are :
M. cordata: leaves, involucral bracts and corolla without gland, involucral bracts 5-7 mm, corolla narrowly campanulate, achene pappus reddish. Species present in South East Asia, Madagascar and Africa.
M. micrantha: leaves, bracts and corolla with pale glands, bracts 3.5 mm, corolla broadly campanulate, achene pappus white never reddish. Species present in South East Asia, Mauritius, Central and South America.
Attributions | Wiktrop |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Mikania micrantha is a ubiquitous species, very common in tropical areas. It is very pervasive in cities and fields that it covers fences and hedges and sometimes the ground. It forms large, thick formations in abandoned areas. It is common in degraded forests, riparian forests, roadsides, pastures and crops. Sunny or shady environments wet 0-2000 m altitude. It grows all the better when the soil is fertile and air is humid.
Mauritius : Mikania micrantha is mostly present in wetlands and perhumid areas in Mauritius, growing on wasteland, riverbanks, in the sugarcane fields and banana plantations.
Nicaragua: Mikania micrantha is a common weed in waste ground and open areas throughout the country, from 0 to 1,500 m altitude.
West Indies: Mikania micrantha is a ubiquitous species, very common in tropical areas. It is very invasive in cities and fields where it covers fences and hedges and sometimes the ground. It forms large, thick formations in abandoned areas. it occurs from 0 to 700 of elevation.
Attributions | Wiktrop |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Origin
Mikania micrantha is native to Central America, South America and the Lesser Antilles
Attributions | |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Global harmfulness
Mikania micrantha belongs to the 100 most invasive species in the world, it can be a nuisance for crops. Its ability to vegetative reproduction requires the complete eradication of the plant to good control of its development and dissemination. It mobilizes nutrients from the soil and can hinder seedling germination and good growth of young plants. This is a major weed in plantations, pastures and roadsides and a weed of minor importance in culture and forest. Once established it spreads extremely fast climbing and winding on a backing and covering vegetation. Its stems can elongate 27 mm per day. Mikania micrantha by its cover intercepts the light and its weight can collapse the supporting plants. It is especially harmful to young plants and nurseries. It enters into competition for water and nutrients, but also appears to be allelopathic to other species. Mikania micrantha is one of three main weeds for tea in India and Sri Lanka and Malaysia.
Attributions | Wiktrop |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Global control
The most effective control against Mikania micrantha remains complete uprooting and export of plants out of plots in production or chemical control with selective herbicides when they exist in different cultures and systemic herbicides.
Attributions | Wiktrop |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Attributions | |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Herbarium pictures ReCOLNAT: https://explore.recolnat.org/search/botanique/simplequery=Mikania%2520micrantha
Attributions | |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Root | Root |
Kingdom | Plantae |
Phylum | Tracheophyta |
Class | Magnoliopsida |
Order | Asterales |
Family | Asteraceae |
Genus | Mikania |
Species | Mikania micrantha Kunth |