Title: Anredera cordifolia (Ten.) Steenis

Scientific Name: Anredera cordifolia (Ten.) Steenis

Common Name: Madeira vine



Source & more images (via ALA)

Habitat: Can be found invading riparian vegetation, the edges of rainforest, tall open forests, damp sclerophyll forests (ISSG 2005). It is also spreading amongst a number of tropical Pacific Islands (PEIR 2005).

Distribution:

Present Distribution - Australia (source: ALA)




Invasiveness Assessment

ESTABLISHMENT


1. Germination requirements? ‘[Seeds] appear to germinate from only a few millimetres deep, and have only been found in well lit areas’ (Swarbrick 1999). Prefers warm, damp or seasonally moist locations (Muyt 2001). ‘Mature aerial tubers drop off the plant and either sprout into tuberlings immediately ..’ (Helensburgh and District Landcare n.d.). Opportunistic germinator.

2. Establishment requirements? ‘Regrowth from vegetative propagules is faster [and more common] than the growth of seedlings, and can occur in dense shade under existing infestations of Madeira vine.’ Shade-tolerant vine (Swarbrick 1999). Although prefers sun, can establish under moderate canopy.

3. How much disturbance is required? Found in ‘dry coastal vegetation, damp sclerophyll forest, riparian and outcrop vegetation, cliff faces, rail embankments, rainforest edges, tall open forest, gardens and waste places’ (Blood 2002). Thrives in moist sunny sites such as riverbanks and gully edges (Eurobodalla Shire Council 2003). Can establish in minor disturbed natural ecosystems.

GROWTH / COMPETITIVE


4. Life form? Succulent climbing vine (ISSG 200).

5. Allelopathic properties? None described.

6. Tolerates herb pressure? Not known to be eaten by animals or insects. No known biocontrol agents in Australia or New Zealand. Has even be ‘suspected of poisoning livestock’ (Blood 2002).

7. Normal growth rate? ‘Can grow rapidly to 10 m in one growing season’ (Blood 2002). ‘Aggressive vegetative growth which competes with and replaces other vegetation’. Growth can ‘exceed 1 m per week and up to 6 m in a growing season’. (ISSG 2005). Although will out compete other species, appears that has moderately rapid growth rate that will equal competitive species of same life form.

8. Stress tolerance to frost, drought, w/logg, sal. etc? ‘Tolerates dry conditions, snow and frost (will die back to tuber and reshoot), salt, sand and frontal dunes.’ ‘Very drought-resistant’ (Blood 2002). Highly tolerant to at least 2 (drought, salinity) and tolerant of another (frost). Susceptible to at least 1 (not described but no reference made to fire or waterlogging tolerance).

REPRODUCTION


9. Reproductive system? Vegetative – from dormant buds on tubers or sections of rhizome in the soil. Through ‘rhizome, stem tubers, stem fragments and leaves, rarely seeds’ (Swarbrick 1999). ‘The production of seedlings by this serious environmental weed has not previously been recorded in Australia, and may help to explain its dispersal to new sites and areas’ (Blood 2002). Has both male and female flowers but rarely produces sexually – although it can (ISSG 2005).

10. Number of propagules produced? ‘Reproduces prolifically from the production of multitudes of aerial tubers’. ‘Thousands of small aerial tubers develop along stems and can remain viable on vines or on the ground for five to ten years’ (Wilsons Creek Huonbrook Landcare 2003). ‘There may be up to 1,500 fallen aerial tubers per square metre’ (Muyt 2001).

11. Propagule longevity? ‘Thousands of small aerial tubers develop along stems and can remain viable on vines or on the ground for five to ten years’ (Muyt 2001).

12. Reproductive period? ‘Thousands of small aerial tubers develop along stems and can remain viable on vines or on the ground for five to ten years’ (Muyt 2001). Mature plant produces viable propagules for 10 years or more.

13. Time to reproductive maturity? ‘Growth commences during spring .. can grow rapidly up to 10 m in one growing season’ (Blood 2002). ‘Aerial tubers develop in large numbers along the stems, break off readily and shoot once they touch soil’ (Sutherland Shire Council 2003). No documented evidence regarding time to reach reproductive maturity.

DISPERSAL


14. Number of mechanisms? The seeds ‘may be dispersed by birds … although the majority probably fall to the ground .. and are dispersed by the movement of soil and water’ (Swarbrick 1999). ‘Spread by contaminated and eroding soil, machinery, road clearing and water’ (Blood 2002).

15. How far do they disperse? ‘Seedlings have been found well away from infestations of parent plants .. likely to have been through the gut of a bird ..’ (Swarbrick 1999).


Impact Assessment

RECREATION


1. Restrict human access? ‘Has spread along the waterways and through forests’ ‘ Because of its thick fleshy leaves and bunches of tubers, it is the heaviest of the problem vines and can smash the branches of trees by its weight’ (Wilsons Creek Huonbrook Landcare 2003). Climbs vigorously over shrubs and trees with rope-like stems, up to a few centimetres in diameter (Muyt 2001). Would have a low nuisance value with the ability to impede individual access.

2. Reduce tourism? ‘Starting to noticeably expand its range’ (Environment Waikato 2002). ‘It is highly visible, and receiving adverse comments from landholders..’ (BREC 2004). Weed has the potential to have a minor effect on the aesthetics of the land.

3. Injurious to people? No known toxic principles.

4. Damage to cultural sites? ‘Can completely smother indigenous vegetation and prevent natural regeneration’ (Blood 2002). Weed could have a moderate visual effect.

ABIOTIC


5. Impact flow? Terrestrial species.

6. Impact water quality? Terrestrial species.

7. Increase soil erosion? Has tap and fibrous roots systems. ‘Spreads over the ground, smothering native groundcover plants and preventing regeneration’ (Eurobodalla Shire Council 2003). As it is an evergreen vine assume a low probability of large-scale soil movement.

8. Reduce biomass? ‘Climbs over shrubs and trees, smothering and breaking them down. Also spreads over the ground, smothering native groundcover plants and preventing regeneration’ (Eurobodalla Shire Council 2003). Likely that the biomass may increase.

9. Change fire regime? Suppression of all indigenous vegetation may reduce fire risk. Thrives in moist habitats (Muyt 2001). Not likely to have an effect on the frequency or intensity of fires.

COMMUNITY HABITAT


10(a) Impact on composition of high value EVC? EVC=Sedgy Riparian Woodland (V); CMA=Corangamite; Bioreg=Otway Ranges; CLIMATE potential=VH. ‘Capable of obliterating all indigenous vegetation. Vines climbing vigorously over shrubs and trees while trailing stems smother all ground-flora and prevent any regeneration’ (Muyt 2001). Displaces all species in all layers.

10(b) Impact on medium value EVC? EVC= Riparian Scrub (D); CMA=Glenelg Hopkins; Bioreg=Glenelg Plains; CLIMATE potential=VH. ‘Capable of obliterating all indigenous vegetation. Vines climbing vigorously over shrubs and trees while trailing stems smother all ground-flora and prevent any regeneration’ (Muyt 2001). Displaces all species in all layers.

10(c) Impact on low value EVC? EVC= Riparian Forest (LC.); CMA=Corangamite; Bioreg=Otway Ranges; CLIMATE potential=VH. ‘Capable of obliterating all indigenous vegetation. Vines climbing vigorously over shrubs and trees while trailing stems smother all ground-flora and prevent any regeneration’ (Muyt 2001). Displaces all species in all layers.

11. Impact on structure? ‘By time, invaded forests become degraded and displaced with vine growth, preventing the establishment of native trees’ (Weber 2003). ‘Capable of obliterating all indigenous vegetation. Vines climbing vigorously over shrubs and trees while trailing stems smother all ground-flora and prevent any regeneration’ (Muyt 2001). Capable of having a major effect on all layers.

12. Effect on threatened flora? ‘This part of the creek area is heavily infested with Madeira vine, camphor laurel and other weeds, while the vine is killing melaleucas and putting at risk rainforest trees’ (BREC 2004). This species is not documented as posing an additional risk to threatened flora in Victoria.

FAUNA


13. Effect on threatened fauna? This species is not documented as posing an additional risk to threatened fauna in Victoria.

14. Effect on non-threatened fauna? In Queensland, an area which is heavily infested with weeds including Anredera cordifolia ‘needs an urgent upgrade … to provide access for fauna and facilitation of movement’ (BREC 2004). Suggests that the weed could have a minor impact upon wildlife corridors.

15. Benefits fauna? In a forest in NSW ‘ the Madeira vine… took over the exposed understorey, further impeding regeneration… Flying foxes found the increasing number of sun-warmed gaps one of the few places left ideally suited for them’ (BCI 1987). Provides very little support to desirable species.

16. Injurious to fauna? ‘Suspected of poisoning livestock’ (Blood 2002). No documented evidence to suggest that fauna would eat the weed. Unlikely to have an effect on indigenous fauna.

PEST ANIMAL


17. Food source to pests? ‘Suspected of poisoning livestock’ (Blood 2002). Unlikely to provide a food source for pest animals.

18. Provides harbor? ‘Involved the total removal of exotic weeds [including Anredera cordifolia] from .. a riparian habitat, which harboured a high density of native rodent, Uromys caudimaculatus’ (Ward, Tucker & Wilson 2003). May provide harbour for minor pest spp.

AGRICULTURE


19. Impact yield? Not known as a weed of agriculture.

20. Impact quality? Not known as a weed of agriculture. Not likely to impact upon agricultural quality.

21. Affect land values? Not known as a weed of agriculture. Unlikely that the weed would affect land value.

22. Change land use? Not known as a weed of agriculture. Unlikely that there will be a change in priority of land use.

23. Increase harvest costs? Not known as a weed of agriculture.

24. Disease host/vector? None evident


Feedback

Do you have additional information about this plant that will improve the quality of the assessment? If so, we would value your contribution.


Assessment ratings originally made by the Victorian Department of Primary Industries.
The entry of this assessment was made possible through the generous support of Ms Diana Dawson.




plants.usda.gov/j…




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Date: 24 August 2012; 10:42:36 PM AEST

Author Name: David Low
Author ID: adminDavid