Biancaea decapetala

Botanical Description

Biancaea decapetala is a robust, deciduous shrub or tree, often with a scrambling or climbing habit. There are numerous straight to hooked thorns on the stems which help the plant to attach to other vegetation for support; the stems usually range from 0.5 - 10 metres long, though can reach 25 metres or more[ 310 Title Plant Resources of Southeast Asia Publication Author Website http://proseanet.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia. , 1093 Title Invasive Species Compendium Publication Author Website http://www.cabi.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc). ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine, source of tannins etc, and is occasionally cultivated at lower elevations[ 310 Title Plant Resources of Southeast Asia Publication Author Website http://proseanet.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia. ]. It has often been grown as an ornamental[ 1093 Title Invasive Species Compendium Publication Author Website http://www.cabi.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc). ]. Biancaea decapetala has a broad native distribution across tropical and sub-tropical Asia and is widely introduced in Africa, South America and Australia where it is sometimes considered a serious weed. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2018)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ]. Biancaea decapetala is capable of swamping native vegetation, changing the composition of the flora and creating a barrier to the movement of people and animals. It has become invasive in several countries where it was introduced intentionally. It is a declared category 1 weed in South Africa where it is invasive in forest edges and clearings, in managed plantations and along roads and rivers/streams. In Australia, it is classed as a noxious weed (category W2) in New South Wales, where legislation states that it must be completely controlled and destroyed, and is prohibited in Western Australia until a weed risk assessment has been completed[ 1093 Title Invasive Species Compendium Publication Author Website http://www.cabi.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc). ].