CORAL VINE, CHAIN OF LOVE (WEED)
Antigonon leptopus, Fam. Polygonaceae
Vigorous semi-deciduous perennial climber with deciduous hooked axillary tendrils, angular stems and tuberous roots. When supported can grow up to 20m high; forms dense ground cover where there is no climbing support.
| Form or habit: | Climbing or twining plant |
| Latex: | Polygonaceae |
| Leaf: | Simple Alternate Arrow to heart-shaped, 70-120 x 50-80mm, dull-green, coarse textured with wavy margins. |
| Flower conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Flower colour: | Pink |
| Flower description: | Tiny, enclosed within deep pink petal-like sepals and borne on large terminal sprays ending with a tendril. |
| Fruit conspicuous: | Inconspicuous |
| Fruit colour: | Green |
| Fruit: | Dry |
| Fruit description: | Egg shaped nut enclosed by persistent papery flower parts. |
| Habitat: | |
| Distribution | |
| Food source for: | |
| Toxicity: | No toxicity known |
| Origin: | Mexico and Central America |
| Weed: | Yes |
| Weed status: | Environmental/garden escapee,Locally declared - Whitsunday region |
| Notes: | Spread by: Garden waste; gravity and contaminated soil. Reproduces from seeds, tubers and root suckers. Populations expand by seed falling close to the parent plant. Invades/threats: Open forest, beach scrub, coastal strand, alluvial plains and river banks. Notes: Smothers native plants in the wet season. Leaves dry out and drop during the dry season providing fuel for fires. Garden escapee. Scattered naturalised populations recorded from throughout this region. Locally declared Whitsunday. |
| Information sources: | Mackay Regional Pest Management Group (2011) Weeds of the Mackay Whitsunday Region. |
