Trees & Plants

Tropical kudzu

Riha thui

Pueraria phaseoloides (Roxb.)

Fairly common in disturbed areas Benth. A major cover crop. A poultice of the plant is applied to ulcers and boils, especially in children. The tuberous roots are edible and the stems can be used as ropes. Th reat & damage: An invasive vine that can grow into dense colonies and s

Details

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uses: A major cover crop. A poultice of the plant is applied to ulcers and boils, especially in children. The tuberous roots are edible and the stems can be used as ropes. Th reat & damage: An invasive vine that can grow into dense colonies and shade out and smother native vegetation including tall trees. × Management: Physical control is laborious and is not a long-term solution. Use of herbicides is reported to be efficient in managing the spread of the weed. in
family: Fabaceae
synonym: Dolichos phaseoloides Roxb., Phaseolus barbatus Wall. in
description: Twining gregarious herbs. Leaves 3-foliolate; leaflets unlobed, broadly × obliquely ovate to rhombic-ovate, 6-10 5.5-9 cm, base cuneate, apex acute, apiculate, basally 3-nerved, lower surface appressed, silky. Flowers subsessile, clustered on long- peduncled racemes. Calyx teeth short, upper 2 connate. Corolla reddish pink. Stamens 10, monadelphous. Ovary sessile; ovules many. Pods to 10 cm long.
native range: Tropical Asia
distribution: Th roughout the humid tropics
english names: Tropical kudzu · Puero · Wild kudzu vine
flowering fruiting: October - March
occurrence maldives: Fairly common in disturbed areas Benth.