kudzu
Family
FabaceaeScientific Name
Pueraria montana var. lobata
Other Common Names:
wa yaka
Synonyms (former Scientific Names):
Pueraria hirsuta
Pueraria thunbergiana
Pueraria lobata
Dolichos lobatus
Habit
This plant is a climbing, perennial vine is part of the pea family. It flowers in late summer followed with the emergence of brown seedpods. With age, the plant can become woody. It is intolerant of mowing and frost, however.
Leaves
Leaves are alternate with three leaflets up to four inches across. The leaflets usually have three lobes with pointed tips, and are hairy on both sides.
Identifying Characteristics
This plant can grow up to 12 inches per day. It can reproduce through seeds or by stolons and stem fragments.
Flower Seed Head
The individual purple flowers are about 1/2 inch long and grow in clusters. The highly fragrant flowers emit a a strong grape Kool-Aid odor. Fruiting seedpods are long, flat brown pods covered in golden brown hair. The seedpods can grow up to 3 inches in length.
Seed Fruit
Seedpods usually contain from 3 to 10 seeds. This plant does not normaly reproduce with seeds, each pod only produces 1 or 2 viable seeds, which have a long germination period.
Where Found
This plant will grow in most climates, but prefers areas with mild winters and and average annual rainfall of 40 inches. It also prefers forest edges, roadsides and open fields, although it will cover hillsides and even entire trees.
Growth Habit
vine
Thorns or Spines
not present
Approximate Flower Diameter
Varies:
dime,
nickle,
quarter
Dominant Flower Color
purple
Flower Symmetry
radial symmetery
Leaf Hairs
has hairs
Leaf Arrangement
alternate
Leaf Margin
lobed
Leaf Structure
trifoliate
Leaf Stalk
longer than leaf
Stem Hairs
has hairs
Stem Cross Section
round or oval
Milky Sap
not present
Root Structure
Varies:
fibrous,
taproot
Life Cycle
perennial
Ochrea
not present
Plant Type
Vine