Anredera cordifolia
(Ten.) Steenis Madeira VineVigorous vine with stems to 15 m long or more. Both subterranean and aerial tubers developed, the latter from lower nodes and raceme axes, irregularly shaped, to c. 8 cm long. Leaves broadly ovate, c. 2.5–12 cm long and wide, fleshy, slightly discolorous, glossy above; apex obtuse or shortly emarginate; base cordate; margins often undulate. Racemes c. 6–20 cm long, drooping, usually simple; flowers numerous, pale cream, soon blackening, sweetly and faintly aniseed-scented; bracts narrowly ovate, 1.5–2.5 mm long; pedicels shortly exceeding bracts; lower bracteoles c. 0.7 mm long, shortly united near base; upper bracteoles ovate, c. 2 mm long; tepals widely spreading, ovate, c. 3 mm long, margins incurved; stamens subequal to petals. Flowers Apr.–May.
GleP, VVP, VRiv, GipP, OtP, CVU, GGr, EGL, HSF. Also naturalised WA, SA, Qld, NSW, Tas. Native to South America. Recorded as growing spontaneously in inner Melbourne suburbs (e.g. Clifton Hill, Prahran) on rail and creek embankments, and near Inverloch, but commonly grown as a screening vine over fences, trellises, sheds etc. and probably naturalised more widely. Not known to produce viable seed in Victoria (and rarely outside its native range (Vivian-Smith et al., 2007)), propagation being via tubers.
Walsh, N.G. (1996). Basellaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 3, Dicotyledons Winteraceae to Myrtaceae, pp. 224–225. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
SpinningVivian-Smith, G.; Lawson, B.E.; Turnbull, I.; Downey, P.O. (2007). The biology of Australian weeds, 46. Anredera cordifolia. Plant Protection Quarterly 22(1): 2–10.
