Skip the header
Open access
Datasheet
Enhanced
23 July 2014

Merremia tuberosa (woodrose)

Datasheet Type: Invasive species

Abstract

This datasheet on Merremia tuberosa covers Identity, Overview, Distribution, Dispersal, Biology & Ecology, Environmental Requirements, Impacts, Uses, Prevention/Control, Further Information.

Identity

Preferred Scientific Name
Merremia tuberosa (L.) Rendle
Preferred Common Name
woodrose
Other Scientific Names
Batatas tuberosa (L.) Bojer
Convolvulus gossypiifolius Kunth
Convolvulus kentrocaulos Steud. ex Choisy
Convolvulus tuberosus (L.) Spreng.
Ipomoea nuda Peter
Ipomoea tuberosa L.
Operculina tuberosa (L.) Meisn.
International Common Names
English
Brazilian jalap
Hawaiian wood rose
Spanish arborvine
Spanish woodbine
wood rose
yellow morning-glory
Spanish
bejuco golondrina
foco de luz
quinamacal
rosa de barranco
rosa de palo
French
liane à tonelle
liane de Gondelour
liane jaune
liane sultane jaune
rose de bois
Portuguese
flor-de-pau
ipoméia-do-ceilão
rosa-de-pau
Local Common Names
Bahamas
wood-rose
Belize
seven fingers
Cuba
bejucco de indio
flor de madera
indio trepador
rosa de madera
Guatemala
bejuco de golondrina
quiebra cajete
Haiti
ferrocarril
Honduras
mala hierba
Japan
bara-asa-gao
Lesser Antilles
bois patate
liane a courtine
rose de Jericho
Mexico
xixicamdtic
Puerto Rico
batilla ventruda
ferrocarril

Pictures

Merremia tuberosa (woodrose); habit, showing foliage and flowers. Kamalo, Molokai. May, 2005.
Habit
Merremia tuberosa (woodrose); habit, showing foliage and flowers. Kamalo, Molokai. May, 2005.
©Forest & Kim Starr-2005 - CC BY 3.0
Merremia tuberosa (woodrose); flowers and foliage. Pukalani, Maui, Hawaii, USA. March, 2007.
Flowers and foliage
Merremia tuberosa (woodrose); flowers and foliage. Pukalani, Maui, Hawaii, USA. March, 2007.
©Forest & Kim Starr-2007 - CC BY 3.0
Merremia tuberosa (woodrose); flowers. Pukalani, Maui, Hawaii, USA. March, 2007.
Flowers
Merremia tuberosa (woodrose); flowers. Pukalani, Maui, Hawaii, USA. March, 2007.
©Forest & Kim Starr-2007 - CC BY 3.0
Merremia tuberosa (woodrose); fruit. Pukalani, Maui, Hawaii, USA. March, 2007.
Fruit
Merremia tuberosa (woodrose); fruit. Pukalani, Maui, Hawaii, USA. March, 2007.
©Forest & Kim Starr-2007 - CC BY 3.0
Merremia tuberosa (woodrose); habit. Pukalani, Maui, Hawaii, USA. March, 2007.
Habit
Merremia tuberosa (woodrose); habit. Pukalani, Maui, Hawaii, USA. March, 2007.
©Forest & Kim Starr-2007 - CC BY 3.0

Summary of Invasiveness

M. tuberosa is a woody vine commonly cultivated as an ornamental which has escaped from cultivation and has become naturalized mostly in wet, mesic, and lowland forests in tropical and subtropical regions of the world (Austin, 1998; Wagner et al., 1999; Acevedo-Rodriguez, 2005). M. tuberosa is a fast-growing vine with the capability to reproduce sexually by seeds and vegetatively from discarded cuttings (PIER, 2014). Once established, it completely smothers tall forest canopies, killing host-trees and out-competing understory plants (Smith, 1985). It is included in the Global Compendium of Weeds (Randall, 2012) and is also listed as invasive in Florida, Cuba, St Lucia, Hawaii, and on several islands in the Pacific Ocean (Wagner et al., 1999; Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2011; Graveson, 2012; Oviedo Prieto et al., 2012; PIER, 2014). 

Taxonomic Tree

This content is currently unavailable.

Notes on Taxonomy and Nomenclature

The family Convolvulaceae includes 57 genera and 1625 species of mostly herbaceous vines, but also trees, shrubs and herbs (Stevens, 2012). The subfamily Dichondroideae includes two genera: Jacquemontia with about 90 species and Merremia with 70 species (Stevens, 2012). Merremia is a pantropical genus of twining vines, with milky or watery latex, bisexual and actinomorphic flowers, and capsular dehiscent fruits (Acevedo-Rodriguez, 2005).
During the years between 1691 and 1753, the species was in the genus Convolvulus. But in 1753, Linnaeus took up one of the descriptors applied by Plukenet and the plants became Ipomoea tuberosa. Finally, in 1905 the name became Merremia tuberosa. Through most of the 1800s people thought that M. tuberosa was native to tropical Africa, Asia and the Americas because authors combined an American with an Old World species under a single name. This confusion was clarified in 1883 when Clarke finally called the African species Ipomoea kentrocaulos; which later became Merremia kentrocaulos (Austin, 1998 and references therein). 

Plant Type

Vine / climber
Perennial
Seed propagated
Vegetatively propagated

Description

M. tuberosa is a woody vine, climbing, twining, 10-15 m in length, with abundant milky latex. Stems thick, cylindrical, glabrous. Leaves alternate; blades simple, 7-12 × 6-11 cm, 7-palmatilobed, the lobes elliptical, long-acuminate at the apex, the base cordiform, the margins revolute, slightly sinuate; upper surface dark green, slightly shiny, glabrous, with the venation sunken; lower surface pale green, dull, glabrous or puberulous, with the venation yellowish, prominent; petioles as long as the blade, cylindrical, glabrous or puberulous. Flowers functionally unisexual, solitary or in simple dichasia. Calyx yellowish green, the sepals unequal, 2-3 cm long, fleshy, accrescent and woody once the fruit is formed; corolla yellow, infundibuliform, 4-5 cm long, the limb 4-5 cm in diameter; stamens exserted, the anthers white; stigma bilobed, green, exserted. Capsules ovoid, opening irregularly, 1.5-2.5 cm long, light brown, with the sepals persistent and accrescent at the base; seeds 4 per fruit, black, obtusely trigonal, 1-1.5 cm long, velvety (Acevedo-Rodriguez, 2005). 

Distribution

M. tuberosa is native to Mexico and Central America (Austin, 1998). Now it can be found naturalized and cultivated throughout tropical Africa, South America, the Caribbean, the Mascarene Islands, China, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Australia and on islands in the Pacific (see distribution table for details, Austin, 1998; Mansur, 2001; Broome et al., 2007; Acevedo-Rodriguez and Strong, 2012; ISSG, 2014; PIER, 2014PROTA, 2014). 

Distribution Map

This content is currently unavailable.

Distribution Table

This content is currently unavailable.

History of Introduction and Spread

M. tuberosa was spread as a medicine (mostly in Europe and Asia) and subsequently through horticultural trade around the world. In the West Indies, H. Sloane collected this species in Jamaica between 1687 and 1689 (Austin, 1998). As early as 1731, M. tuberosa was in cultivation in the Chelsea Physic Garden, in London, UK and more seeds were taken to Europe in 1793 from Jamaica. In Cuba, this species was first recorded in 1819 by Humboldt, Bonpland and Kunth (Austin, 1998). By the early 1800s, M. tuberosa was introduced into Africa, Mauritius, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Ethiopia, and Australia and in 1897 Hallier recorded the first specimens of M. tuberosa from Brazil (Austin, 1998). This species apparently arrived late in Hawaii, with the first collection having been made in 1932 (Austin 1998) and more recently it has been recorded arriving on some of the islands in the Pacific Ocean (Austin, 1998; PIER, 2014). 

Risk of Introduction

The risk of introduction of M. tuberosa is high. This vine species has been actively cultivated as an ornamental and has repeatedly escaped from cultivation. In addition it behaves as a weed in open and disturbed habitats. Because M. tuberosa spreads by seeds and vegetatively by cuttings, its probability of escaping from cultivation and becoming naturalized into new habitats is high. 

Means of Movement and Dispersal

M. tuberosa spreads by seeds and vegetatively by cuttings. However, it has been widely dispersed by humans to be used as medicine and through the horticulture trade around the world. It is grown and introduced for the flowers and ornamental fruits that are used by florists (Austin, 1998). Seeds can be dispersed by water, wind and humans and they remain viable for several years and germinate readily even in conditions of low light (Langeland and Stocker, 2001). 

Pathway Causes

Pathway causeNotesLong distanceLocalReferences
Escape from confinement or garden escape (pathway cause)Often escaped from cultivationYesYes
Garden waste disposal (pathway cause)Stem fragments and seedsYesYes
Medicinal use (pathway cause)Roots are used in traditional medicineYesYes
Nursery trade (pathway cause)OrnamentalYesYes
Ornamental purposes (pathway cause)Commonly cultivated as ornamentalYesYes

Pathway Vectors

Pathway vectorNotesLong distanceLocalReferences
Debris and waste associated with human activities (pathway vector)Stem fragments and seeds escaped from cultivationYesYes
Machinery and equipment (pathway vector)Garden toolsYesYes
Water (pathway vector)Stem fragments and seedsYesYes
Wind (pathway vector)Stem fragments and seedsYesYes

Habitat

M. tuberosa is often grown as an ornamental in gardens, yards, parks and roadsides. It has escaped from cultivation and become naturalized in open and disturbed areas in mesic forests, wet forests, lowland forests, riparian areas, coastal forests and shrublands from sea level to 1400 m (Wagner, 1999; Mansur, 2001; ISSG, 2014; PIER, 2014). 

Habitat List

CategorySub categoryHabitatPresenceStatus
Terrestrial    
TerrestrialTerrestrial – ManagedDisturbed areasPresent, no further detailsHarmful (pest or invasive)
TerrestrialTerrestrial – ManagedDisturbed areasPresent, no further detailsNatural
TerrestrialTerrestrial – ManagedDisturbed areasPresent, no further detailsProductive/non-natural
TerrestrialTerrestrial – ManagedRail / roadsidesPresent, no further detailsHarmful (pest or invasive)
TerrestrialTerrestrial – ManagedRail / roadsidesPresent, no further detailsNatural
TerrestrialTerrestrial – ManagedRail / roadsidesPresent, no further detailsProductive/non-natural
TerrestrialTerrestrial – ManagedUrban / peri-urban areasPresent, no further detailsHarmful (pest or invasive)
TerrestrialTerrestrial – ManagedUrban / peri-urban areasPresent, no further detailsNatural
TerrestrialTerrestrial – ManagedUrban / peri-urban areasPresent, no further detailsProductive/non-natural
TerrestrialTerrestrial ‑ Natural / Semi-naturalNatural forestsPresent, no further detailsHarmful (pest or invasive)
TerrestrialTerrestrial ‑ Natural / Semi-naturalNatural forestsPresent, no further detailsNatural
TerrestrialTerrestrial ‑ Natural / Semi-naturalNatural grasslandsPresent, no further detailsHarmful (pest or invasive)
TerrestrialTerrestrial ‑ Natural / Semi-naturalNatural grasslandsPresent, no further detailsNatural
TerrestrialTerrestrial ‑ Natural / Semi-naturalRiverbanksPresent, no further detailsHarmful (pest or invasive)
TerrestrialTerrestrial ‑ Natural / Semi-naturalRiverbanksPresent, no further detailsNatural
Littoral Coastal areasPresent, no further detailsHarmful (pest or invasive)
Littoral Coastal areasPresent, no further detailsNatural

Biology and Ecology

Reproductive Biology

M. tuberosa has bisexual, showy, funnel shaped yellow flowers which fully bloom in sunlight and are probably pollinated by insects. Bees, butterflies and birds have been recorded visiting these flowers. However, there is no information on the breeding system or the reproductive biology for this species.

Physiology and Phenology

In Puerto Rico, M. tuberosa has been recorded flowering from October to December and fruiting from November to March (Acevedo-Rodriguez, 2005). In Florida (USA), it flowers in late autumn and fruits occur abundantly in early winter. By late December and early January dieback occurs. The seeds remain viable for several years and germinate readily even in conditions of low light (Langeland and Stocker, 2001; PIER, 2014).

Environmental Requirements

M. tuberosa grows best on sandy well-drained soils with pH ranging from 6.1 to 7.8 (PROTA, 2014). It is a climbing vine that grows over trees or other surfaces and prefers high levels of sunlight (PIER, 2014).

Climate

Climate typeDescriptionPreferred or toleratedRemarks
Af - Tropical rainforest climate> 60mm precipitation per monthPreferred 
Am - Tropical monsoon climateTropical monsoon climate ( < 60mm precipitation driest month but > (100 - [total annual precipitation(mm}/25]))Preferred 
As - Tropical savanna climate with dry summer< 60mm precipitation driest month (in summer) and < (100 - [total annual precipitation{mm}/25])Preferred 
Aw - Tropical wet and dry savanna climate< 60mm precipitation driest month (in winter) and < (100 - [total annual precipitation{mm}/25])Preferred 
Cs - Warm temperate climate with dry summerWarm average temp. > 10°C, Cold average temp. > 0°C, dry summersTolerated 

Air Temperature

ParameterLower limit (°C)Upper limit (°C)
Mean annual temperature1130

Soil Tolerances

Soil texture > light
Soil texture > medium
Soil reaction > neutral
Soil reaction > alkaline
Soil drainage > free

Impact Summary

CategoryImpact
Cultural/amenityPositive
Economic/livelihoodPositive and negative
Environment (generally)Positive and negative
Human healthPositive

Impact: Environmental

M. tuberosa is a woody, vigorous vine that overgrows and smothers tall forest canopies. It blocks sunlight from trees and the understory, killing native trees and shubs in the forest understory. It has been especially problematic on islands such as Cuba, St Lucia, Hawaii, and Niue where it has spread quickly and aggressively (Space and Flynn, 2000; Graveson, 2012; Oviedo Prieto et al., 2012). M. tuberosa is also reported to be toxic to animals and humans and should not be ingested by either (ISSG, 2014).

Risk and Impact Factors

Invasiveness

Proved invasive outside its native range
Tolerates, or benefits from, cultivation, browsing pressure, mutilation, fire etc
Pioneering in disturbed areas
Highly mobile locally
Benefits from human association (i.e. it is a human commensal)
Long lived
Fast growing
Has propagules that can remain viable for more than one year
Reproduces asexually

Impact outcomes

Damaged ecosystem services
Ecosystem change/ habitat alteration
Host damage
Modification of successional patterns
Monoculture formation
Reduced native biodiversity
Threat to/ loss of native species

Impact mechanisms

Competition - monopolizing resources
Competition - shading
Competition - smothering
Competition - strangling
Rapid growth
Rooting

Likelihood of entry/control

Highly likely to be transported internationally deliberately

Uses

M. tuberosa is commonly planted as an ornamental and to be used in traditional medicine. Its root was historically found useful for those that have swollen bellies and whose intestines rumble. A mixture was also drunk while fasting, to purge, and to lower fever (Austin, 1998). Plants are also grown for their flowers and ornamental fruits that are used by florists. 

Uses List

Environmental > Amenity
Medicinal, pharmaceutical > Source of medicine/pharmaceutical
Ornamental > Cut flower
Ornamental > Potted plant

Prevention and Control

Due to the variable regulations around (de)registration of pesticides, your national list of registered pesticides or relevant authority should be consulted to determine which products are legally allowed for use in your country when considering chemical control. Pesticides should always be used in a lawful manner, consistent with the product's label.
ln Florida, the herbicides Garlon 4 and Garlon 3 [active ingredient triclopyr] have been used for the chemical control of M. tuberosa. Garlon 4 at 10% concentration applied to the basal surface of plants was evaluated to achieve excellent control. Garlon 3A at 50% applied to cut surfaces of this species achieved good control. Both herbicides have been recommended to be applied to cut stems (Langeland and Stocker, 2001). Seedlings of M. tuberosa can also be hand pulled.

Links to Websites

NameURLComment
GISD/IASPMR: Invasive Alien Species Pathway Management Resource and DAISIE European Invasive Alien Species Gatewayhttps://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.m93f6Data source for updated system data added to species habitat list.
Global register of Introduced and Invasive species (GRIIS)http://griis.org/Data source for updated system data added to species habitat list.

References

Acevedo-Rodríguez P, 2005. Vines and climbing plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Contributions from the United States National Herbarium, 51:483 pp.
Acevedo-Rodríguez P, Strong MT, 2012. Catalogue of the Seed Plants of the West Indies. Smithsonian Contributions to Botany, 98:1192 pp. Washington DC, USA: Smithsonian Institution. http://botany.si.edu/Antilles/WestIndies/catalog.htm
Atlas of Living Australia, 2014. Atlas of Living Australia. http://www.ala.org.au
Austin DF, 1998. Xixicamátic or wood rose (Merremia tuberosa, Convolvulaceae): origins and dispersal. Economic Botany, 52(4):412-422.
Broome R, Sabir K, Carrington S, 2007. Plants of the Eastern Caribbean. Online database. Barbados: University of the West Indies. http://ecflora.cavehill.uwi.edu/index.html
Davidse G, Sousa Sánchez M, Knapp S, Chiang Cabrera F, 2012. Rubiaceae a Verbenaceae. Flora Mesoamericana, 4:1-533.
Florence J, Chevillotte H, Ollier C, Meyer J-Y, 2013. Base de données botaniques Nadeaud de l'Herbier de la Polynésie Française (PAP) (Botanical database of the Nadeaud Herbarium of French Polynesia). http://www.herbier-tahiti.pf
Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2011. Florida EPPC's 2011 Invasive Plant Species List. http://www.fleppc.org/list/11list.html
Graveson R, 2012. The Plants of Saint Lucia (in the Lesser Antilles of the Caribbean). The Plants of Saint Lucia (in the Lesser Antilles of the Caribbean). http://www.saintlucianplants.com
Hammel BE, 2010. Convolvulaceae. Monographs in Systematic Botany from the Missouri Botanical Garden, 119:72-126. [Manual de Plantas de Costa Rica, Vol. 5.]
Hokche O, Berry PE, Huber O, 2008. Nuevo Catálogo de la Flora Vascular de Venezuela (New catalogue of the vascular flora of Venezuela). Caracas, Venezuela: Fundación Instituto Botánico de Venezuela, 860 pp.
ISSG, 2014. Global Invasive Species Database (GISD). Invasive Species Specialist Group of the IUCN Species Survival Commission. http://www.issg.org/database/welcome/
Langeland KA, Stocker RK, 2001. Control of non-native plants in natural areas of Florida. SP 242. USA: Florida Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/WG/WG20900.pdf
MacKee HS, 1994. Catalogue of introduced and cultivated plants in New Caledonia. (Catalogue des plantes introduites et cultivées en Nouvelle-Calédonie.) Paris, France: Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, unpaginated.
Mansur M, 2001. Merremia tuberosa (L.) Rendle: Record from Proseabase. Proseabase [ed. by Valkenburg, J. L. C. H. van \Bunyapraphatsara, N.]. Bogor, Indonesia: PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) Foundation.
Oviedo Prieto R, Herrera Oliver P, Caluff MG, et al., 2012. National list of invasive and potentially invasive plants in the Republic of Cuba - 2011. (Lista nacional de especies de plantas invasoras y potencialmente invasoras en la República de Cuba - 2011). Bissea: Boletín sobre Conservación de Plantas del Jardín Botánico Nacional de Cuba, 6(Special Issue 1):22-96.
PIER, 2014. Pacific Islands Ecosystems at Risk. Honolulu, USA: HEAR, University of Hawaii. http://www.hear.org/pier/index.html
PROTA, 2014. PROTA4U web database. Grubben GJH, Denton OA, eds. Wageningen, Netherlands: Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. http://www.prota4u.org/search.asp
Randall RP, 2012. A Global Compendium of Weeds. Perth, Australia: Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia, 1124 pp. http://www.cabi.org/isc/FullTextPDF/2013/20133109119.pdf
Rojas-Sandoval J, Acevedo-Rodríguez P, 2014. Naturalization and invasion of alien plants in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Biological Invasions. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10530-014-0712-3
Simão-Bianchini R, Ferreira PPA, 2014. Merremia in the list of species of the flora of Brazil (Merremia in Lista de Espécies da Flora do Brasil). Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro. http://reflora.jbrj.gov.br/jabot/floradobrasil/FB7102
Smith CW, 1985. Impact of alien plants on Hawaii's native biota. In: Hawaii's terrestrial ecosystems: preservation and management. Proceedings of a symposium held June 5-6, 1984, at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. [ed. by Stone CP, Scott JM] Honolulu, HI, USA: University of Hawaii Press, 180-250.
Space J, Flynn T, 2002. Report to the Government of the Cook Islands on Invasive Plant Species of Environmental Concern. Honolulu, USA: USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, 146.
Space JC, Flynn T, 2000. Report to the Government of Niue on invasive plant species of environmental concern. USDA Forest Service, Honolulu, 34.
Stevens PF, 2012. Angiosperm Phylogeny Website. http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/research/APweb/
USDA-NRCS, 2014. The PLANTS Database. Baton Rouge, USA: National Plant Data Center. http://plants.usda.gov/
Wagner WL, Herbst DR, Sohmer SH, 1999. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawaii. Revised edition. Honolulu, Hawaii, USA: University of Hawaii Press/Bishop Museum Press, 1919 pp.
Wu TL, 2001. Check List of Hong Kong Plants. Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department Bulletin 1 (revised):384 pp.

Information & Authors

Information

Published In

History

Published online: 23 July 2014

Language

English

Authors

Affiliations

Julissa Rojas-Sandoval
Pedro Acevedo-Rodríguez

Metrics & Citations

Metrics

VIEW ALL METRICS

SCITE_

Citations

Export citation

Select the format you want to export the citations of this publication.

EXPORT CITATIONS

View Options

View options

Get Access

Login Options

Restore your content access

Enter your email address to restore your content access:

Note: This functionality works only for purchases done as a guest. If you already have an account, log in to access the content to which you are entitled.

Media

Figures

Other

Tables

Share

Share

Copy the content Link

Share on social media

Related Articles

Skip the navigation