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Taxonomic name: Pueraria montana var. lobata (Willd.) Maesen & S. Almeida Synonyms: Dolichos lobatus Willd., Pueraria hirsuta (Thunb.) C. Schneider, Pueraria lobata var. thomsonii (Benth.) Maesen, Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi, Pueraria montana (Lour.) Merr. var. lobata (Willd.), Pueraria thunbergiana (Sieb. & Zucc.) Benth. Common names: kudzu (English), kudzu vine (English), Kudzu-Kletterwein (German) Organism type: vine, climber Pueraria montana var. lobata is a rope-like semi-woody leguminous vine with a twining and trailing growth habit that can form dense infestations covering the ground and trees. It is reported to infest about 2 to 3 million hectacres in the Eastern U.S. and results in estimated loses of US$500 million per year in land productivity and control costs. It inhabits temperate zones, or higher altitudes in the tropics and can be found growing in almost all eco-types from the driest flatwoods to the margins of permanent bodies of water, but not in periodically flooded soils. Description Twining and trailing, semiwoody vine, 10-30m long, from semiwoody tuberous roots weighing up to many kilograms and reaching up to 1-5m deep. Leaves are alternate, 3-leaflet, with leaflets 8-18cm long and 6-20cm wide, usually slightly lobed. Flowers in reddish-purple spike-like racemes. Fruit a flattened legume, brown hairy, splitting to release few seeds, oval and hard-coated. Occurs in: agricultural areas, natural forests, planted forests, range/grasslands, riparian zones, ruderal/disturbed, scrub/shrublands, urban areas General impacts Forms dense species restricted infestations. Geographical range Native range: A native of Asia. Known introduced range: Pueraria montana inhabits temperate zones or higher altitudes in the tropics and can be found growing in almost all eco-types from the dryest flatwoods to the margins of permanent bodies of water, but not in periodically flooded soils. Introduction pathways to new locations Internet sales/postal services: Road vehicles (long distance): Local dispersal methods Consumption/excretion: Road vehicles: Translocation of machinery/equipment (local): Water currents: Management information Repeated herbicide treatments and overgrazing have been the most used and successful control treatments followed by pine and pasture grass planting. Preventative measures: A Risk assessment of Pueraria montana var. lobata for Australia was prepared by Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER) using the Australian risk assessment system (Pheloung, 1995). The result is a score of 9 and a recommendation of: reject the plant for import (Australia) or species likely to be a pest (Pacific). Physical: Bulldozing is used prior to development for elimination in selected sites. Biological: Classical biocontrol is under preliminary development with cooperative home range surveys of predators in China. Augmented biocontrol with native insects and pathogens is under investigation and development. Nutrition Can be found growing in a wide range of soil types with little to no special nutrient requirements, except it does not grow in periodically flooded soils. Reproduction Seeds are low in viability and mature in September to October and remain on the plant until January. One seed crop per year. This species has been nominated as among 100 of the "World's Worst" invaders Reviewed by: Major update under progress Dr. James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Auburn, AL 36849 USA. Compiled by: Dr. James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Auburn, AL 36849 USA & IUCN/SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) To contribute information, please contact Shyama Pagad. Last Modified: Monday, November 28, 2005