Mignonette vine
Botanical Name
Anredera cordifolia
Family
Basellaceae (Madeira vine)
Also known as
Madeira vine, Boussingaultia baselloides, Boussingaultia cordifolia
Where is it originally from?
South America
What does it look like?
Perennial, climbing, hairless, woody vine with fleshy rhizomes and slender, usually reddish stems with small irregular 'warty' aerial tubers. Fleshy to succulent heart-shaped leaves (2-11 x 2-10 cm) are glossy, clammy to the touch, and arranged alternately on the stems. Slender, drooping flowerheads (18 cm long) of small, numerous, fragrant cream flowers are produced from January to April, but no fruit is formed.
Are there any similar species?
Senecio angulatus and S. mikanioides.
Why is it weedy?
Tubers are very hard to kill and are saltwater-tolerant. Grows at a moderate rate but forms heavy, long-lived masses that dominate medium to high canopy. Tolerates drought and damp conditions, wind, salt, many soil types, moderate shade and damage.
How does it spread?
No seed is produced in New Zealand, with all spread by dumped or waterborne (fresh or sea water) tubers and rhizomes. Even tiny fragments of tuber resprout. Common sources are gardens.
What damage does it do?
Smothers all plants to medium to high canopy, preventing the establishment of native plant seedlings. Combined weight of aerial tubers can topple small trees.
Which habitats is it likely to invade?
Low and disturbed forest and margins, gullies, shrublands, coastline, river systems, and streamsides, especially in warmer areas.
What can I do to get rid of it?
1. Physical removal - Hand pull or dig out entire plant. Ensure all plant material is removed from site to prevent regrowth from cut stems and branches. Burn all parts or place all parts in black plastic bags and leave to 'cook' in sun.
2. Cut and paste - Cut the stem as close to the ground as possible and cover the entire stump with herbicide as soon as possible after cutting. Apply either glyphosate gel (400g/l strength), metsulfuron gel (10g/l strength) or picloram gel (43g/L strength). Do not use metsulfuron or picloram gels near desirable plants or over wetlands. If the gel is inadequate apply a solution of diesel and triclopyr (20:1 diesel:triclopyr) or commercial formulations (120g triclopyr/l of oil or product containing triclopyr and picloram 50ml/L water mix) can be used. Apply the mixture over the entire exposed surface of the cut stump, i.e. top and sides.
3. Foliar spray - Apply herbicide using a hand held sprayer/knapsack to plants <1m tall. Use the recommended adjuvant shown on the label. Spray spring to autumn.
Knapsack - metsulfuron-methyl 600g/kg (3g) + glyphosate (100ml) + recommended adjuvant per 10L water
Gun and Hose - metsulfuron-methyl 600g/kg (30g) + glyphosate (1L) + recommended adjuvant per 100L water
CAUTION: When using any herbicide or pesticide, PLEASE READ THE LABEL THOROUGHLY to ensure that all instructions and directions for the purchase, use and storage of the product, are followed and adhered to.
What can I do to stop it coming back?
Resprouts continuously from fallen tubers and stumps, occasionally from stems. Do not dump aerial tubers in the sea, as they sprout wherever they wash up.
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