Wood Rose

woodrose1Wood rose (Merremia tuberosa)

(Convolvulaceae)

woodrose2Description:

  • Woody, climbing vine with yellow, funnel-shaped flowers that open in sunlight and close when cloudy or dark
  • Mature seedpods look like brown, wooden rose.
  • Morning-glory family
  • Native to Tropical America, introduced as an ornamental. First collected in the wild in 1932. Continues to spread by people as ornamental and through floral arrangements

Harm:

  • woodrose3Fast-growing, aggressive vine that chokes and smothers plants
  • Grows sea level to 1400 ft.
  • Seeds are viable for years
  • Known invasive in Florida, Guam, Saipan, and Niue

In Hawaii:

  • Found in large amounts on Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Big Island.
  • Molokai: Naturalized. MoMISC is working to keep it out of Kamakou, and has controlled one population threatening this native forest.

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