Mikania

Mikania
Mikania
Mikania scandens
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Tribe: Eupatorieae
Genus: Mikania
Willd.
Species

About 450

Mikania is a genus of about 450[1] species in the family of Asteraceae. The name honors the Czech botanist Johann Christian Mikan. Members of the genus are stem twiners and lianas and are common in the neotropical flora. Mikania originates from South America. A few species, such as Mikania scandens, are found in temperate areas of North and South America, and nine species are known from the Old World tropics.[1] As with other plants in the tribe Eupatorieae, the flowers have disc florets and no ray florets.

The species Mikania laevigata and Mikania glomerata, also known as guaco, are popular in herbal medicine.

Mikania micrantha is a widespread weed in the tropics. It grows very quickly (as fast as 80 mm in 24 hours for a young plant) and covers other plants.[2] People have looked into controlling it with herbicides, parasitic plants, fungi and insects.

Selected species

Gallery of Mikania micrantha

References

  1. ^ a b "Mikania". Flora of North America. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=120704. 
  2. ^ "INVASIVES: Newsletter of the Asia-Pacific Forest Invasive Species Network (APFISN)" (PDF). February 2007. http://www.fs.fed.us/global/topic/invasives/feb2007.pdf. 
  3. ^ "Mikania batatifolia de Candolle". Flora of North America. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=250067190. 
  4. ^ "Mikania cordifolia (Linnaeus f.) Willdenow". Flora of North America. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242428429. 
  5. ^ "Mikania scandens (Linnaeus) Willdenow". Flora of North America. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=220008598.