climbing hempweed

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• climbing hempweed
• mikania-vine
• mile-a-minute

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Eupatorium denticulatum
• Eupatorium orinocense
• Mikania deltoides
• Mikania denticulata
• Mikania glechomifolia
• Mikania micrantha f. hirsuta
• Mikania orinocensis
• Mikania scandens var. hirsuta
• Mikania scandens var. villosa
• Mikania sinuata
• Mikania subcrenata
• Mikania subcymosa
• Willoughbya heterophylla
• Willoughbya variabilis
• Mikania micrantha var. cynanchifolia
• Eupatorium orinocense var. batatifolium
• Eupatorium orinocense var. tamoides
• Mikania cordata var. indica
• Mikania scandens var. subcymosa
• Mikania scandens var. umbellifera
• Willoughbya micrantha
• Willoughbya scandens var. orinocensis
• Mikania tamoides
• Mikania umbellifera

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Asterales. Finally, it is a member of the family Asteraceae within the genus Mikania.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning multiple regions of the world. In the Western Indian Ocean, its presence is noted across the Chagos Archipelago, Mauritius, and Réunion. Moving toward East Asia, it can be found within the Nansei-shoto islands. Its range further extends into the southeastern parts of China. Collectively, these locations highlight the wide environmental adaptability of the species.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Mikania micrantha is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse environments and a broad altitudinal distribution. It thrives across a wide elevational gradient, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum of 2,900 m AMSL, with a mean elevation of approximately 500 m AMSL. This species demonstrates high ecological plasticity, colonizing a vast array of habitats including anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), the Caatinga (strictu sensu), and Campo Limpo. It is frequently found in Cerrado (lato sensu) landscapes and various forest types, such as Riparian or Gallery Forests (Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria), Deciduous Seasonal Forests (Floresta Estacional Decidual), Evergreen Seasonal Forests (Floresta Estacional Perenifólia), Semi-deciduous Seasonal Forests (Floresta Estacional Semidecidual), and Ombrophilous/Rainforests (Floresta Ombrófila/Pluvial), as well as Ombrophilous forests.

Elevational range max:

2900 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Caatinga (stricto sensu), Campo Limpo, Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria, Floresta Estacional Decidual, Floresta Estacional Perenifólia, Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial), Floresta Omb

Life history

The life history of Mikania micrantha is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons. As a vigorous climbing vine, its lifecycle is defined by rapid vegetative growth and a highly opportunistic strategy for colonization. It often begins its life from seeds or through vegetative propagation via stolons and rooting nodes, quickly establishing a presence in disturbed areas or forest edges. Throughout its perennial lifespan, the plant demonstrates significant adaptability, often exhibiting variable growth patterns depending on the availability of light and nutrients. During its reproductive phase, it produces small, inconspicuous flowers that facilitate widespread dispersal, ensuring the continued establishment of new colonies across its habitat.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Mikania micrantha is characterized by its growth habit as a non-woody, herbaceous vine. Functioning as an obligatory climber, it utilizes a vine-like structure to ascend surrounding vegetation, though it is classified under the broader growth form of an herb or other non-tree categories. The plant is strictly terrestrial in its ecological positioning, lacking any epiphytic tendencies such as being a holoepiphyte or hemiepiphyte. Furthermore, it operates as an independent organism, showing no parasitic behavior toward its host plants.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

vine

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

other

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Mikania micrantha is characterized by its rapid growth rate and highly efficient metabolic processes that allow it to function as an aggressive climbing vine. Its physiological framework does not exhibit succulence, as it lacks specialized water-storing tissues in its stems or leaves, relying instead on consistent moisture absorption through its extensive root system to maintain turgor pressure. Furthermore, the plant is not a nitrogen fixer; it does not possess symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria such as Rhizobium in root nodules, meaning it must derive its nitrogen requirements directly from the soil through the uptake of nitrates and ammonium ions. Its physiological strategy focuses on maximizing photosynthetic surface area and nutrient acquisition to outcompete surrounding vegetation, driven by high transpiration rates and efficient nutrient transport mechanisms.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Mikania micrantha is characterized by the production of highly uniform, minute seeds, with a consistent seed mass across the population; both the mean, minimum, and maximum recorded seed mass are documented at 9e-05 g. This lightweight seed structure is an evolutionary adaptation to its primary dispersal syndrome, which is anemochorous, allowing the plant to utilize wind currents for efficient long-distance spread. This wind-based dispersal mechanism is the dominant mode of movement for the species, facilitating its ability to colonize new territories rapidly.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Seed mass mean:

9e-05 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Mikania micrantha has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. International journal of biological macromolecules

Chemicals

Mikania micrantha has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Deoxymikanolide, Dihydromikanolide, Glycosides, Mikanolide, Quercetin 3-O-rutinoside.

Deoxymikanolide

1. Pesticide biochemistry and physiology

Dihydromikanolide

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

Glycosides

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Mikanolide

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

Quercetin 3-O-rutinoside

1. Planta

RUTIN

1. Planta

Terpenes

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Activities

Mikania micrantha has 9 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Cytotoxic, Anthelmintic, Antiaging, Antibacterial.

Antioxidant

1. Chemistry & biodiversity
2. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology
3. Advances in pharmacological and pharmaceutical sciences

Cytotoxic

1. Chemistry & biodiversity
2. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology

Anthelmintic

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Antiaging

1. Advances in pharmacological and pharmaceutical sciences

Antibacterial

1. Pesticide biochemistry and physiology

Antidiabetic

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Anxiolytic

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Spasmolytic

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Thrombolytic

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Medicinal Uses

Mikania micrantha has 17 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Aeromonas hydrophila, E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Ralstonia solanacearum.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations