kudzu

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• kudzu vine

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Pueraria lobata var. montana
• Dolichos montanus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Fabales, it is classified under the family Fabaceae. It is specifically identified by the genus Pueraria and the species montana.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution that spans across several distinct regions. In Southeastern Europe, its presence is noted in both Italy and the Northwestern Balkan Peninsula. Moving toward Eastern Europe, the species can be found within the territories of Crimea and Ukraine. Additionally, its range extends to the Atlantic region, specifically inhabiting the Azores. This wide-ranging dispersal highlights the plant's ability to thrive in various European and Macaronesian environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Pueraria montana is characterized by its broad adaptability to various environmental conditions and diverse topographical settings. It thrives across a significant altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 3200 m AMSL, with a mean elevational range centered around 1250 m AMSL. This plant is frequently found within halophytic vegetation, as well as in dense secondary shrublands and rudeeral vegetation, indicating its ability to colonize disturbed sites and various ecological niches.

Elevational range max:

3200 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1250 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

halophytic vegetation, dense secondary shrub and ruderal vegetation

Life history

The life history of Pueraria montana is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to establish a long-term presence within its ecosystem. As a phanerophyte, it typically maintains its photosynthetic organs above the ground, utilizing a climbing or spreading growth habit to access light. This species exhibits deciduous behavior, shedding its leaves periodically as part of its seasonal cycle. Its biological structure is further classified under the phanerophyte life form, reflecting its strategy of protecting its buds and growing points above the soil surface during various environmental conditions.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pueraria montana is characterized by its growth form as a herbaceous liana, functioning as an obligatory climber that relies on external structures for support. As a terrestrial plant, it is independent and does not exhibit parasitic or epiphytic behaviors, growing instead within soil-based environments. The plant displays variable woodiness and can reach significant dimensions, with a height ranging from a minimum of 2 meters to a maximum of 30 meters, maintaining a mean height of approximately 10 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

30 m

Plant height mean:

10 m

Plant height min:

2 m

Woodiness :

variable

Physiology

The physiology of Pueraria montana is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes. The plant exhibits a specialized morphological structure in its foliage, featuring rhomboid-shaped leaves with entire margins and an absence of both thorns and spines. The leaf dimensions are variable, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 7 cm to a maximum of 15 cm, and widths spanning from 5 cm to 13 cm. In terms of leaf architecture and resource allocation, the plant maintains a non-succulent structure with a consistent Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of approximately 392.41 cm²/g, indicating a uniform leaf mass per unit area across its minimum, mean, and maximum values. Furthermore, Pueraria montana plays a significant role in nutrient cycling within its ecosystem through its ability to function as a nitrogen fixer, facilitating the biological conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form.

Leaf form :

rhomboid

Leaf length max:

15 cm

Leaf length min:

7 cm

Leaf margin :

entire

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Leaf width max:

13 cm

Leaf width min:

5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) min:

392.4104312 cm²/g

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Pueraria montana is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily driven by insects, with bees serving as a key functional group in the process. The plant exhibits an absence of self-fertilization, necessitating cross-pollination to ensure genetic diversity. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces fruit in the form of a pod, which is a dehiscent type, meaning it splits open at maturity to release its contents. The seeds produced are relatively small, with a mean seed mass of 0.0122625 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.0114 g to a maximum of 0.0132 g. Regarding the spread of its progeny, the species utilizes an anthropochorous dispersal syndrome, indicating that human activity plays a role in the movement and distribution of its seeds.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Fruit type :

pod

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.0132 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0122625 g

Seed mass min:

0.0114 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Pueraria montana has 125 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Kudzuisoflavone A, RUTIN, (+)-Pinitol, (+)-l-lactic acid, (-)-Glycinol.

Kudzuisoflavone A

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics

RUTIN

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics

(+)-Pinitol

1. Dr. Duke

(+)-l-lactic acid

1. Dr. Duke

(-)-Glycinol

1. Dr. Duke

(-)-Linalool

1. Dr. Duke

-carotene

1. Dr. Duke

2,4-Dihydroxybenzoic acid methyl ester

1. Dr. Duke

2-methoxy-4-vinyl phenol

1. Dr. Duke

3'-Hydroxypuerarin

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Pueraria montana has 490 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antioxidant, Antiproliferative, Antipyretic, Antiviral.

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

Antiproliferative

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antipyretic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

12-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

17-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-HT-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Pueraria montana has 8 reported medicinal uses identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Marburg virus, alcoholism, analgesic, antioxidant, antipyretic.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations