Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jkksz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T07:19:06.288Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Corallita (Antigonon leptopus): Intentional Introduction of a Plant with Documented Invasive Capability

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Janelle M. Burke  and
Antonio DiTommaso
Janelle M. Burke*
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
Antonio DiTommaso
Affiliation:
Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
*
Corresponding author's E-mail: jmb328@cornell.edu
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Corallita (Antigonon leptopus) is a perennial vine, lauded as an ornamental for its vigorous growth, and plentiful (usually) pink flowers, and even its ability to smother unsightly landscapes. In the United States it thrives in horticultural zones 8 to 10, and also is successfully grown worldwide in tropical climates. When corallita is neglected, it can grow quickly over other vegetation, spreading beyond its area of introduction. Once established, it is difficult to eradicate because it produces many tuberous roots that can propagate vegetatively. Its fruits are buoyant, allowing for successful seed dispersal in water. The islands of Guam (South Pacific Ocean) and St. Eustatius (Caribbean Sea) represent two regions where corallita has become so pervasive that it threatens local diversity. In Florida, already it is classified as a Category II invasive. Our report reviews the literature and past studies of corallita, in addition to adding new taxonomic and distribution information from herbarium specimens to clarify the identity and geographic range. It is recommended that introductions of this plant by the horticultural industry in both tropical and temperate regions be closely monitored to prevent spread. On tropical island nations, we advise against any new introductions.

Keywords

Corallitacoral creeperMexican creepercorallina, bellisimaAntigonon leptopus Hook. & Arn.OrnamentalPolygonaceaetropicsvine
Type
Invasion Alert
Information
Invasive Plant Science and Management , Volume 4 , Issue 3 , September 2011 , pp. 265 - 273
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
Copyright © Weed Science Society of America

References

Literature Cited

Brandbyge, J. 1988. Polygonaceae. Pages 3–61 in Harling, G. and Andersson, L., eds. Flora of Ecuador. Vol. 33. Copenhagen, Denmark Nordic Journal of Botany.Google Scholar
Brandbyge, J. 1993. Polygonaceae. Pages 531–544 in Kubitzki, K., Rohwer, J. G., and Bittrich, V., eds. The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants. Vol. II. Berlin, Germany Springer- Verlag.Google Scholar
Clements, D. R. and DiTommaso, A. 2011. Climate change and weed adaptation: can evolution of invasive plants lead to greater range expansion than forecasted? Weed Res. 51(3):227–240.Google Scholar
Duke, J. A. 1960. Polygonaceae. Pages 305–341 in Rizzini, C. T., ed. Flora of Panama. Part IV, Fascicle III. Ann. Mo. Bot. Gard. 47(4).Google Scholar
Englberger, K. 2009. Invasive Weeds of Pohnpei: A Guide for Identification and Public Awareness. Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia Conservation Society of Pohnpei. 29 p.Google Scholar
Ernst, J. J. and Ketner, P. 2007. Final Report: Corallita pilot project: St. Eustatius, Netherlands Antilles. St. Eustatius, Netherlands Antilles Published by the authors. 38 p.Google Scholar
Ewing, J. 1982. A Revision of Antigonon . M.Sc. thesis Bloomington, IN: University of Indiana. 63 p.Google Scholar
[FLEPPC]. Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council. 2009. 2009 List of Invasive Plant Species. http://www.fleppc.org/list/List-WW-F09-final.pdf. Accessed: October 20, 2010.Google Scholar
Freeman, C. C. and Reveal, J. L. 2005. Polygonaceae. Pages 216–601 in Flora of North America Editorial Committee, eds. Flora of North America North of Mexico. Vol. 5, No. 44. New York Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Gilman, E. F. 2007. Antigonon leptopus, Coral vine, Queen's Wreath. FPS-43, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food Agricultural Science, University of Florida. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fp043. Accessed: November 10, 2010.Google Scholar
Graham, S. A. and Wood, C. E. Jr. 1965. The genera of Polygonaceae in the southeastern United States. J. Arnold Arboret. 46:91–121.Google Scholar
Hellman, J. J., Byers, J. E., Bierwagen, B. G., and Dukes, J. S. 2008. Five potential consequences of climate change for invasive species. Conserv. Biol. 22:534–543.Google Scholar
Howard, R. A. 2001. Polygonaceae. Pages 2167–2176 in Stevens, W. D., Ulloa, C., Pool, A., and Montiel, O. M., eds. Flora de Nicaragua, Monogr. Syst. Bot. Vol. 85.Google Scholar
International Association for Plant Taxonomy. 1990. Index herbariorum. Bronx, New York Published and distributed for International Association for Plant Taxonomy by New York Botanical Gardens.Google Scholar
Jones, Q. and Earle, F. R. 1966. Chemical analyses of seeds II: oil and protein content of 759 species. Econ. Bot. 20:127–155.Google Scholar
Loope, L. L. and Mueller-Dombois, D. 1989. Characteristics of invaded islands, with special reference to Hawaii. Pages 257–281 in Drake, J. A., Mooney, H. A., Di Castri, F., Groves, K. H., Kruger, F. S., Rejmánek, M., and Williamson, M., eds. Biological Invasions. A Global Perspective. New York John Wiley and Sons.Google Scholar
Mitich, L. 2000. Kudzu (Pueraria lobata [Willd.] Ohwi). Weed Technol. 14:231–235.Google Scholar
Ortíz, J. J. 1994. Polygonaceae. Etnoflora Yucatanense. Fascículo 10. Mérida, México Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universida Autónoma de Yucatán. 61 p.Google Scholar
[PIER] Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk. 2009. Antigonon leptopus. PIER Website ver. 5.3. http://www.hear.org/pier/species/antigonon_leptopus.htm. Accessed: November 10, 2010.Google Scholar
Pichardo, J. S. and Vibrans, H. 2009. Antigonon leptopus. Malezas de México. http://www.conabio.gob.mx/malezasdemexico/polygonaceae/antigonon-leptopus/fichas/pagina1.htm. Accessed: October 20, 2010.Google Scholar
Raju, A. J. S., Raju, V. K., Victor, P., and Naidu, S. A. 2001. Floral ecology, breeding system and pollination in Antigonon leptopus L. (Polygonaceae). Plant Species Biol. 16:159–164.Google Scholar
Scheper, J. S. 2004. Floridata: Antigonon leptopus . http://www.floridata.com/ref/a/anti_lep.cfm. Accessed: October 20, 2010.Google Scholar
Space, J. C. and Falanruw, M. 1999. Observations on Invasive Plant Species in Micronesia. USDA Forest Service Honolulu. Report to the Pacific Islands Committee, Council of Western State Foresters. USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. http://www.hear.org/pier/pdf/micronesia_report.pdf. Accessed: October 20, 2010.Google Scholar
Standley, P. C. and Steyermark, J. A. 1946. Polygonaceae. Pages 104–137 in Standley, P. C. and Steyermark, J. A., eds. Flora of Guatemala. Part IV. Fieldiana, Botany 24(4).Google Scholar
[STENAPA] St. Eustatius National Park Service. 2007. Corallita Pilot Project: Results and Recommendations. www.statiapark.org/downloads/downloads/Corallita%20pilot%20project-results%20recommendations-jan07.pdf. Accessed: November 10, 2010.Google Scholar
Swarbrick, J. T. 1997. Environmental Weeds and Exotic Plants on Christmas Island, Indian Ocean: Unpublished: Report to Parks Australia., 101 p plus appendix.Google Scholar
Swarbrick, J. T. and Hart, R. 2000. Environmental weeds of Christmas Island (Indian Ocean) and their management. Plant Prot. Q. 16:54–57.Google Scholar
[WWF] World Wildlife Federation. Australia. 2006. National List of Naturalised Invasive and Potentially Invasive Garden Plants. WWF, Sydney, Australia. http://www.wwf.org.au/publications/ListInvasivePlants/. Accessed: November 10, 2010.Google Scholar