Plants of South Eastern New South Wales

Anredera cordifolia

Flowers. Australian Plant Image Index, photographers Forest & Kim Starr, Hawaii

Flowers and leaves. Photographer Don Wood, near Princes Higway, Narooma

Aerial tubers. Australian Plant Image Index, photographer B Gray, Mazlin Creek, Qld

Common name

Madeira Vine, Lamb's Tail, Jalap, Potato Vine

Family

Basellaceae

Where found

Mainly in moist situations. Rainforest margins, bushland, moist woodland, roadsides, gardens, and along streams. Sydney area and the mountains to the west. Canberra. Occasionally elsewhere. Doubtfully naturalised in the ACT.

Notes

Introduced perennial climber to 30 m tall. Stems may become woody. Stems and petals fleshy, leaves slightly fleshy. Stems cylindrical, hairless. Leaves alternating up the stems, 2–15 cm long, 15–120 mm wide, bases more or less cordate. Flowers fragrant, faintly aniseed-scented, with 5 white to cream 'petals' each 2-3 mm long. Flower clusters 6–30 cm long, hanging down. Seed not set in Australia; plants propagate by aerial and underground tubers. Flowering: spring to autumn.

A Weed of National Significance. General Biosecurity Duty with additional restrictions in all NSW. Pest plant ACT. Noxious weed Vic.

PlantNET description:  http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Anredera~cordifolia  (accessed 3 January, 2021)