Family: Basellaceae

Status:

Description:
A large vine with rather fleshy, glossy, slightly heart shaped leaves, and long pendulous spikes of tiny cream flowers. Seed is probably not formed in southern Australia. The plant grows from large underground tubers. It also forms aerial tubers along the branches, which will sprout to form new plants when they fall to the ground. These tubers are similar in appearance to the ginger root used in cooking.

Preferred habitat and impacts:
More common in the northern parts of the region, but present at least as far south as Bega. Generally in moist sunny sites such as river banks and gully edges. Dies back over winter in the southern part of the region, and re-sprouts from the tuber in spring.
Climbs over shrubs and trees, smothering and breaking them down. Also spreads over the ground, smothering native groundcover plants and preventing regeneration.

Dispersal:
Spread by tubers, in dumped garden waste or contaminated soil, or by water, such as along rivers in floods. Aerial tubers will be shed from stems if the vine is cut, and remain viable in soil for at least 5 years.

Look-alikes:
The fleshy leaves and aerial tubers are distinctive, though the tubers may not always be present. Most other climbing plants with fleshy leaves are also weeds, such as cape ivy (Delairea odorata) and climbing groundsel (Senecio angulatus, Senecio tamoides). One small native vine, climbing lignum (Muehlenbeckia adpressa) has slightly fleshy leaves, which may also have a heart-shaped base similar to Madiera vine. Climbing lignum leaves differ in having finely crisped margins. It only grows on sea cliffs and dunes.
Some native vines have glossy, but not fleshy, heart-shaped leaves: snake vine (Stephania japonica), pearl vine (Sarcopetalum harveyanum ), round-leaf vine (Legnophora moorei ) and giant pepper vine (Piper novae-hollandiae). Giant pepper vine clings to tree trunks with small suckers of aerial roots, unlike Madeira vine which twines. It only occurs north from Narooma.

Control:
Plants can be dug up, but large tubers may break up in the process. Careful collection and disposal of aerial tubers will be needed if pulling vines down, to avoid spreading the plant. Use a tarp laid under the working area to catch them. Spraying with herbicides is useful for plants without aerial tubers, and young regrowth. Scrape and paint method can be used on mature vines. This will kill aerial tubers slowly. Results need to be monitored for regrowth. Respraying needs to be done frequently, to prevent enough foliage recovering to support the development of new tubers.