| Mikania micrantha | |
|---|---|
| Castalius rosimon on Mikania micrantha | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Tribe: | Eupatorieae |
| Genus: | Mikania |
| Species: | M. micrantha |
| Binomial name | |
| Makania micrantha |
|
Mikania micrantha is a tropical plant in the Asteraceae. It is also known as the Bitter Vine in the Commonwealth of The Northern Marianas Island.
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.[1] 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. It is used to heal cuts and stop minor external bleeding in Fiji but its medicinal properties are still yet to be fully discovered.
The species is native to the sub-tropical zones of north, central, and south America.[2]
Mikania has become a problem in Nepal, covering more than 20% of the Chitwan National Park.[3]
Extracts from M. micrantha slow the germination and growth of a variety of plant species.[4] At least three sesquiterpenoids have been identified which produce this effect.[5]
M. micrantha is affected by a virus called Mikania micrantha wilt virus (MMWV), which is a Fabavirus.[6]