8818.000 Mikania Willd.

Description of the genus

Climbers (in ours). Leaves opposite, frequently cordate or sagittate at base. Capitula homogamous, discoid, 4-flowered. Involucre cylindric. Phyllaries 4-5 in one series, linear or linear-lanceolate. Receptacle without scales. Corolla-tube cylindric below; lobes 5, short, ovate. Pappus of scabrid bristles.

Comment: The taxonomy of this genus in Africa has long been confusing. The name Mikania cordata has formerly been used for what now are believed to be a number of different taxa. Although we have often been able to find reference for one taxon only under various names in different countries it is possible that more than one taxon may occur. The most recent approach in Flora of Tropical East Africa (Beentje & Ghazanfar, 2005) suggests that at least two species occur in our region, M. chenopodiifolia and S. sagittifera, but others may be present that do not occur in East Africa. Until we have more information available we have placed all records under Mikania sp. in all countries for the time being.

Worldwide: 430 species, occurring in the tropics.

Botswana: 2 taxa.

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SpeciesFZ divisionsContent
sagittifera B.L. Rob.
sp. Description, Image

Other sources of information about Mikania:

Our websites:

Flora of Caprivi: Mikania
Flora of Caprivi: cultivated Mikania
Flora of Malawi: Mikania
Flora of Mozambique: Mikania
Flora of Zambia: Mikania
Flora of Zimbabwe: Mikania

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Mikania
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Mikania
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Mikania
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Mikania
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Mikania
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Mikania
JSTOR Plant Science: Mikania
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Mikania
Plants of the World Online: Mikania
Tropicos: Mikania
Wikipedia: Mikania

Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2014-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Botswana: Genus page: Mikania.
https://www.botswanaflora.com/speciesdata/genus.php?genus_id=1471, retrieved 28 March 2024

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