Mikania micrantha Kunth

Kunth, K.(C.) S. (1820) Nova Genera et Species Plantarum 4: 105. Type: South America : Venezuela, no date, Humboldt & Bonpland s.n.; holo: P. Fide Tropicos.

Mile-a-minute; Mikania vine

A slender vine not exceeding a stem diameter of 2 cm.

Leaf blades about 6-9 x 3.5-6.5 cm, petioles about 3-3.5 cm long.

Flower heads about 3-3.5 mm long, usually with 4 flowers in each head. Flowers mildly sweet scented. Calyx much modified to form a pappus about 2 mm long. Corolla tube about 1.5 mm long, lobes about 0.5 mm long. Anthers about 0.5 mm long, fused together at anthesis, filaments about 0.5 mm long. Ovary about 1 mm long. Style + stigma about 2 mm long. One ovule in each ovary.

Fruit + plume about 4 mm long. Plumes about 3 mm long. Surface of the fruit longitudinally ribbed.

Features not available.

An introduced species originally from South America, now naturalised in NEQ and several tropical countries. Altitudinal range not known but collections to date have been made at localities only a few metres above sea level. Grows in disturbed areas on rain forest margins.

Widely regarded as one of the worlds worst weeds only recently discovered in a few localities in North Queensland. Waterhouse, B.T. Mikania microantha (Mile-a-Minute) www.rgbsyd.gov.au/RGB/Sci/WEEDS/mikania.html.