Introduction

Origin: Tropical West Africa
Introduction to Florida: 1923

Distribution

C, SW, SE

Description

Appearance

Evergreen, climbing, woody vine, with young stems densely hairy and mature stems glabrous.

Leaves

Opposite, trifoliolate; leaf and leaflets stalked; terminal leaflet larger, to 7 cm (4 in) long with a stalk to 5 cm (2 in) long; leaflets broadly ovate, pubescent above and below with pointed tips.

Flowers

White; in broad, branched clusters at leaf axils; petals fused into a narrow, slightly curved tube to 2.5 cm (1 in) long, with 5–7 terminal lobes shorter than the tube, spreading in star-shaped fashion; quite fragrant, opening at night.

Fruit

A small, fleshy, roundish, black, 2-lobed berry.

Impacts

An aggressive, troublesome, difficult-to-control weed; can climb high into the tree canopy of mature forests, completely enshrouding native vegetation and reducing native plant diversity. Has vigorously invaded intact, undisturbed hardwood forests in south Florida. FLEPPC Category I