Scientific name: Anredera cordifolia (Ten.) van Steenis

Synonyms: Boussingaultia cordifolia Ten.; Boussingaultia baselloides auct. Non Kunth. Hook.; Boussingaultia gracilis Miers forma psuedobaselloides Hauman

Common names: Madeira vine, lamb’s tails

Family: Basellaceae

Origin:

Native of South America.

Habit:

Perennial, twining or climbing plant, forming large numbers of tubers along stems and from roots.

Habitat:

Weed of untended areas on rainforest margins, along creeks or near habitation.

General description:

Stems and leaves

Stems are hairless and grow in a twining fashion. Distinctive knobby tubers form on the stems. The leaves are oppositely arranged, slightly fleshy (succulent) and hairless (glabrous). Leaf stalks (petioles) are 5-20 mm long. The leaf blades are more or less heart shaped or broadly egg-shaped (ovate), tapering to a point or almost rounded at the tip. They are 2-10 x 1.5-9 cm in size.

Flowers and fruit

Plants tend to produce masses of drooping flower spikes up to 25 cm long. Each inflorescence bears numerous small, white, fragrant flowers. The petals and sepals are 2-3 mm long with pointed tips. The small fruit are surrounded by the persistent, fleshy petals and sepals.

Distinguishing characteristics:

Knobby tubers on the stems, which are the main structures for vegetative reproduction, heart-shaped leaves and drooping inflorescences of small white flowers.

Noxious status:

A declared species in New South Wales.

Sources:

Anonymous. (2000). Noxious Weed List for Australian States and Territories. National Weeds Strategy Executive Committee, Launceston.

Kleinschmidt, H.E., Holland, A. and Simpson, P. (1996). Suburban Weeds. 3rd Edition. Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane.

Stanley, T.E. and Ross, E.M. (1983-1989). Flora of South-eastern Queensland. Volume 1. Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane.