Mikania

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Mikania

Mikania scandens

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Tribe:	Eupatorieae
Genus:	Mikania

Species

About 450

Mikania is a genus of about 450^[1] species in the family of Asteraceae. Members of the genus are stem twiners and lianas and are common in the neotropical flora. Mikania originates from South America. Only a few species, such as Mikania scandens, are found in temperate areas of North and South America^[1]. As with other plants in the tribe Eupatorieae, the flowers have disc florets and no ray florets.

The species Mikania laevigata and Mikania glomerata, also known as guaco, are popular in herbal medicine.

Mikania micrantha is a widespread weed in the tropics. It grows very quickly (as fast as 80 mm in 24 hours for a young plant) and covers other plants.^[2] Therefore, various control measures against Mikania have been tried in many countries. It is moderately susceptible to the herbicides 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T and paraquat. Cuscuta, a parasitic plant, has been used in Assam and Sri Lanka to suppress the spread of Mikania from waste land to tea planatations. Other control measures are Puccinia spegazzinii fungus and Liothrips mikaniae insects.

[edit] Gallery of Mikania micrantha

Common Peirrot Castalius rosimon on Mikania micrantha at Narendrapur near Kolkata, West Bengal, India.	Common Peirrot Castalius rosimon on Mikania micrantha at Narendrapur near Kolkata, West Bengal, India.	Common Peirrot Castalius rosimon on Mikania micrantha at Narendrapur near Kolkata, West Bengal, India.	Grey Pansy Junonia atlites on Mikania micrantha in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
Peacock Pansy Junonia almana- Dry season form on Mikania micrantha in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.	Peacock Pansy Junonia almana- Dry season form on Mikania micrantha in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.	Peacock Pansy Junonia almana- Dry season form on Mikania micrantha in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.	Common Five-ring Ypthima baldus on Mikania micrantha in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.