Detailed information sheet

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Botanical name : Anredera cordifolia Family : Basellaceae (Madeira vine) family  Common name : mignonette vine Also known as : Madiera 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. Cut down and paint stump (all year round): metsulferon-methyl 600g/kg (1g /L) or glyphosate (100ml/L) or Tordon Brushkiller (100ml/L) or triclopyr 600 EC (100ml/L) or Yates Hydrocotyle Killer (500ml/L). Pull out and rake up all aerial tubers, burn on site or ‘cook’ in black plastic bags left in the sun. 2. Pull plant (all year round), burn all parts or place all parts in black plastic bags and leave to ‘cook’ in sun.  3. Spray (spring to autumn): 3g metsulferon-methyl 600g/kg + 100ml glyphosate + 10ml penetrant/10L (knapsack) or 30g metsulferon-methyl 600g/kg + 1L glyphosate + 100ml penetrant/100L (spraygun).  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.

For more detailed botanical descriptions of weed species, check out the Plant Conservation Network's website at http://www.nzpcn.org.nz/exotic_plant_life_and_weeds/index.asp

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*The chemical control methods in this manual were devised by Department of Conservation staff for Department of Conservation operations and should not be used as a substitute for the pesticide manufacturer's label instructions. The Department of Conservation takes no responsibility for any liability or damage to any person, property or thing which may occur as a result of the use of any pesticide in accordance with the chemical control methods contained on this website.

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