Anredera cordifolia

Botanical Description

Madeira vine is a fast-growing, evergreen perennial climbing plant producing stems up to 9 metres long that support themselves by twining around the thin branches of other plants[ K Title Plants for a Future Author Ken Fern Description Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips. ]. The stems are killed of in cold weather, but the plant can survive by means of its tuberous rootstocks and regrow when the weather is warmer. Widely grown as an ornamental, the plant is also utilized for its edible roots and leaves and its medicinal properties. The plant has escaped from cultivation and become naturalized in many areas of the tropics to warm temperate zones, where it can outcompete native vegetation. It smothers trees and other vegetation it grows on and can easily can break branches and bring down entire trees on its own[ 413 Title Global Invasive Species Database Publication Author Website http://www.issg.org/database/welcome/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Very detailed information on almost 400 species (with more being added) of plants that have become weeds in areas outside their native range. ]. The plant is notoriously difficult to control[ 413 Title Global Invasive Species Database Publication Author Website http://www.issg.org/database/welcome/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Very detailed information on almost 400 species (with more being added) of plants that have become weeds in areas outside their native range. ].