Mikania micrantha

Species category

Weed

Common name

mile-a-minute, bittervine, Chinese creeper, kwalo koburu, liane americaine, ovaova, wa mbosuvu

Diagnostic characters

Planting unit

AcheneAchene:
A dry, hard, one-chambered, one-seeded indehiscent fruit, as in buckwheat (Fagopyrum) or sunflower (Helianthus). The fruit wall is not united with the seed coat.

Shape

Oblanceolate

Size

  • Length 1.5–1.9 mm
  • Width 0.4–0.5 mm
  • Thickness 0.4–0.5 mm

Color

Dark brown

Texture

GlandularGlandular:
The surface appearing to be covered with minute glands or spheres.

Other structures

Scar at base is round and hollow.

Identification notes

PappusPappus:
Modified calyx in Asteraceae, composed of hairs, bristles, awns, or scales. The pappus-like structure attached to milkweed seeds is termed a coma. 
of many white and rough hairs.

Noxious weed seed categories

State Noxious Weed: Hawaii
Federal

Learn more on ITP's Federal Noxious Weed Disseminules tool.

AOSA examination list

Not included

Nomenclature

Family

Asteraceae

Valid name

Mikania micrantha Kunth

 Mikania micrantha.  Glandular achenes. Photo by Julia Scher, USDA-APHIS-PPQ.
Mikania micrantha. Glandular achenes. Photo by Julia Scher, USDA-APHIS-PPQ.
 Mikania micrantha.  Achenes with white rough pappus hairs. Photo by Julia Scher, USDA-APHIS-PPQ.
Mikania micrantha. Achenes with white rough pappus hairs. Photo by Julia Scher, USDA-APHIS-PPQ.
 Mikania micrantha.  Achenes with round hollow scar at base. Photo by Julia Scher, USDA-APHIS-PPQ.
Mikania micrantha. Achenes with round hollow scar at base. Photo by Julia Scher, USDA-APHIS-PPQ.