Merremia tuberosa

Common Name: Spanish arborvine

Family: Convolvulaceae

Common Synonyms: Ipomoea tuberosa

USDA Hardiness Zone: 9b -11

Growth Habit: Vine

Origin: Central America

FISC Category: 2

FDACS Listed Noxious Weed: No

Introduction Date: Before 1913

IFAS Assessment:

• North: OK
• Central: CAUTION
• South: CAUTION

Description

Perennial, woody to herbaceous vine. Leaves alternate, simple, palmately lobed, elliptic. Flowers showy, solitary, yellow, tubular, 6 cm wide, and on long stalks. Sepals large, brown, persist after the flower and surround the fruit (resembling a wooden rose). Fruit a round, capsule with 1-4 hairy, black seeds.

Habitat

Hammocks, forests, riverine forests

Comments

Vouchered in Monroe, Dade, Broward, and Hillsborough Co. Weed of disturbed areas. Very aggressive in hardwood forests. Seeds viable for long periods of time. Seeds water dispersed. Wood roses used in floral arrangements.

Control Methods

• Manual: NA
• Chemical: Foliar (5% glyphosate, IFAS), basal bark (10% triclopyr ester, IFAS), cut stump (50% triclopyr amine or 10% triclopyr ester, IFAS)
• Biological: NA

Control Notes

NA

References

Dave's Garden. 2013. PlantFiles: Wood rose, Spanish morning glory, yellow morning glory, Merremia tuberosa. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/31829/. Accessed on December 10, 2013.

Langeland, K.A., H.M. Cherry, C.M. McCormick, K.C. Burks. 2008. Identification and Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas-Second Edition. IFAS Publication SP 257. University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.

Langeland, K.A., J.A. Ferrell, B. Sellers, G.E. MacDonald, and R.K. Stocker. 2011. Integrated management of non-native plants in natural areas of Florida. EDIS publication SP 242. University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.