Thought to be native to India, Asia and central Africa, ivy gourd is a smothering vine.
Scientific name
Coccinia grandis
Description
hanging mats that cover shrubs and small trees.
Stems are green, slender when young, becoming succulent and thick with age.
Stems develop roots where nodes contact soil.
Leaves are alternate, heart- to pentagon-shaped
Flowers are white, star-shaped, have 5 narrow sepals
Male flowers have 3 convoluted stamens.
Female flowers have 3 hairy stigmas.
Fruit is red, ovoid to elliptical, 25-60mm long, 15-35mm in diameter, hairless, on stalks 10-40mm long.
Seeds are tan, 6-7mm long.
Habitat
Native range habitat is deciduous bush, savanna, dry evergreen forest and thickets.
Prefers open, disturbed sites and riparian habitats in dry tropics of north Queensland.
Distribution in Queensland
Found near Townsville, Cairns and other parts of coastal northern Queensland.
Life cycle
Seeds do not show dormancy, and usually germinate in 2-4 weeks.
Flowers August-September.
Impacts
Environmental
Smothers vegetation and other objects, forming dense canopy.
Economic
Hosts melon fly (crop pest) and, possibly, ring spot virus.
How it is spread
Spread from seeds and broken pieces of roots and stems.
Seeds can be dispersed by birds and feral pigs.
Prevention
Find out how farmers can prevent weed spread.
Find out how gardeners and outdoor enthusiasts can prevent weed spread.
Control
Physical control
Very difficult to control, as all roots and stem fragments must be removed or plants will regrow from tuberous root system.
Herbicide control
No herbicide currently registered for control of ivy gourd in Queensland. Off-label use permit (Permit No. PER11463) allows use of various herbicides to control environmental weeds in non-agricultural areas, bushland, forests, wetlands, and coastal and adjacent areas.
In Hawaii, foliar application has proved successful only on small, young plants.
Cut-stump application of herbicides will be more effective.
Biological control
No known biological control agents.
However, 2 weevils (Acythopeus burkhartorum and A. cocciniae) are being trialled in Hawaii.
Declaration details
This is not a declared species under the Land Protection (Pest and State Route Management) Act 2002 but may be declared under other legislation or local government law.