Kudzu (Pueraria montana, Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc., n.s., 24(2): 10, 210 (1935))

Family: Fabaceae

Author: (Lour.) Merr.

Bibliography: Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc., n.s., 24(2): 10, 210 (1935)

Year: 1935

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Pueraria

Vegetable: False

Observations: Asia to N. Australia

Description

Kudzu, scientifically known as Pueraria montana, is a perennial vine that has garnered both recognition and notoriety in various parts of the world. This plant belongs to the Fabaceae family, a large family of flowering plants commonly known as legumes, which also includes beans, peas, and lentils.

Native to Asia and extending to Northern Australia, Kudzu thrives in the warm, temperate climates of these regions. Its vigorous growth habits and adaptability to different environments make it a robust plant that can cover large areas very quickly. However, its aggressive nature also means that it often outcompetes native vegetation, leading to ecological imbalances.

Kudzu was first officially recorded in the Transactions of the American Philosophical Society in 1935, noted under the authorship of (Lour.) Merr. This document highlighted both the plant’s characteristics and its expansive range, providing a crucial early reference for botanists and ecologists studying its impact and behaviors.

The vine is well-known for its rapid growth rate, with some reports indicating that it can grow up to a foot per day under ideal conditions. This rapid expansion allows Kudzu to form dense canopies that smother other plants and impede their access to sunlight, which can lead to significant reductions in biodiversity in affected areas.

Moreover, Kudzu has been utilized for various purposes, including soil erosion control, forage for livestock, and in traditional medicine. Nevertheless, its benefits are often overshadowed by its capacity to become invasive, particularly in regions outside its native habitat where it lacks natural predators and control mechanisms.

Effective management of Kudzu involves a combination of mechanical removal, chemical treatments, and sometimes, biological controls. Each method has its own set of challenges and requires careful consideration to prevent further environmental disruption.

In summary, Kudzu is a potent example of a plant whose attributes of rapid growth and adaptability can turn from beneficial to problematic when introduced to non-native settings. Its presence serves as a stark reminder of the complexities involved in managing invasive species and maintaining ecological balance.

Common Names

Eng: kudzu, japanese arrowroot, kudzu vine
Deu: kudzu
Fra: kudzu
Swe: kudzuböna
En: Kudzu, Japanese arrowroot, Kudzu vine
Ar: كودزو
Zh: 山葛
Et: Hõlmine pueraaria
Fr: Kudzu
De: Kudzu, Kudzu-Kletterwein
Hu: Kudzu nyílgyökér
Ko: 칡
Fa: پیورریا مونتانا
Pl: Opornik łatkowaty
Sv: Kudzuböna
Zh-tw: 山葛
Zh-hant: 葛
Uk: Пуэрария лопастная

Synonyms

• Dolichos montanus (Lour.)
• Pueraria lobata var. montana ((Lour.) Maesen)

Distribution

• Assam (native)
• Bangladesh (native)
• Cambodia (native)
• Caroline Is. (native)
• China North-Central (native)
• China South-Central (native)
• China Southeast (native)
• East Himalaya (native)
• Hainan (native)
• India (native)
• Inner Mongolia (native)
• Japan (native)
• Jawa (native)
• Korea (native)
• Laos (native)
• Malaya (native)
• Maluku (native)
• Manchuria (native)
• Myanmar (native)
• Nansei-shoto (native)
• Nepal (native)
• New Guinea (native)
• Northern Territory (native)
• Ogasawara-shoto (native)
• Philippines (native)
• Primorye (native)
• Solomon Is. (native)
• Taiwan (native)
• Thailand (native)
• Tibet (native)
• Vietnam (native)
• Alabama (introduced)
• Angola (introduced)
• Argentina Northeast (introduced)
• Arkansas (introduced)
• Azores (introduced)
• Bermuda (introduced)
• Burundi (introduced)
• Cameroon (introduced)
• Central African Repu (introduced)
• Dominican Republic (introduced)
• Ethiopia (introduced)
• Fiji (introduced)
• Florida (introduced)
• Gabon (introduced)
• Georgia (introduced)
• Ghana (introduced)
• Gilbert Is. (introduced)
• Hawaii (introduced)
• Honduras (introduced)
• Illinois (introduced)
• Kansas (introduced)
• Kentucky (introduced)
• Krym (introduced)
• Liberia (introduced)
• Louisiana (introduced)
• Maine (introduced)
• Maryland (introduced)
• Masachusettes (introduced)
• Mississippi (introduced)
• Mozambique (introduced)
• New Caledonia (introduced)
• New Jersey (introduced)
• New South Wales (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• Nigeria (introduced)
• Niue (introduced)
• Norfolk Is. (introduced)
• North Carolina (introduced)
• Northern Provinces (introduced)
• Nova Scotia (introduced)
• Oklahoma (introduced)
• Pakistan (introduced)
• Panamá (introduced)
• Pennsylvania (introduced)
• Queensland (introduced)
• Samoa (introduced)
• Senegal (introduced)
• Sierra Leone (introduced)
• Society Is. (introduced)
• South Carolina (introduced)
• Sudan (introduced)
• Tadzhikistan (introduced)
• Tennessee (introduced)
• Texas (introduced)
• Tonga (introduced)
• Transcaucasus (introduced)
• Ukraine (introduced)
• Vanuatu (introduced)
• Virginia (introduced)
• Wallis-Futuna Is. (introduced)
• Yugoslavia (introduced)
• Zaïre (introduced)

Additional Images

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Habit

Taken Aug 23, 2015 by EOL − Sam Kieschnick (cc-by-nc)

Taken Jun 27, 2022 by Chris Griggs (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 24, 2022 by Tristan Jaton-Maria (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 24, 2015 by EOL − abeck365 (cc-by-nc)

Taken Jul 2, 2019 by Tim Rutland (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Oct 1, 2021 by Jenna Gandolfo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 1, 2021 by Jenna Gandolfo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 20, 2022 by Taylor (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 26, 2021 by Hottea Hottea (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 2, 2022 by Rachel Rogers (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Oct 17, 2021 by JennyR (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 20, 2022 by Taylor (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 20, 2022 by Taylor (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Apr 22, 2019 by Eli Small (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 4, 2019 by Eli Small (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 14, 2003 by EOL − Steven J. Baskauf (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Jul 14, 2003 by EOL − Steven J. Baskauf (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Dec 6, 2013 by EOL − Robert L Curtis (cc-by-nc-sa)

Flower

Taken Sep 13, 2020 by Heather Heather (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 28, 2021 by andrew heald (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 23, 2020 by Kenneth Parker (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 25, 2020 by Crystal Wang (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 18, 2014 by EOL − Evan Raskin (cc-by-nc)

Other

Taken Jul 31, 2021 by Brittany Dobson (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 20, 2022 by Taylor (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 5, 2020 by Tamara Mull (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:516708-1)
• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2977636)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Pueraria montana (Lour.) Merr.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Vine

Growth