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Rubber vine

Photo of the Rubber Vine

Rubber vine flower and leaf

Photo of the Rubber Vine

Rubber vine infestation



General information

Rubber vine (Cryptostegia grandiflora) is a vigorous climber with twining, whip-like shoots. The plant can grow unsupported as an untidy shrub with many stems. Originally from Madagascar, it was introduced into Australia as an ornamental shrub in 1875.

Rubber vine is a declared Class 2 plant under Queensland legislation and a Weed of National Significance (WONS). 

Scientific name Cryptostegia grandiflora
Impacts
  • invades waterways
  • smothers riparian vegetation and forms dense thickets
  • decreases biodiversity and impedes stock and native animal movement
  • infestations expand outward from waterways, hillsides and pastures
Description
  • 1-2 m high and can scramble up to 30 m high in trees
  • has glossy dark-green leaves, 6-10 cm long by 3-5 cm wide in opposite pairs
  • stems, leaves and unripe pods exude a white, milky sap when broken or cut
  • flowers are large and showy with five white to light purple petals arranged in a funnel shape
  • seed pods are rigid and grow in pairs at the end of a short stalk
  • pods have a tuft of long, white silky hairs, are 10-12 cm long by 3-4 cm wide and contain up to 450 brown seeds
Habitat and distribution
  • spread by wind and water
  • infestations found throughout river systems of southern Cape York and the Gulf of Carpentaria, south along the coast to the Burnett River
  • common in Central Queensland
  • widely distributed throughout tropical and subtropical regions of the world
Control
  • a combined approach of different control methods including biological and chemical integrated with land management practices is most effective
  • see the rubber vine fact sheet for further information
Declaration details
  • a declared Class 2 species under the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002
  • control of declared pests is required by landholders
Further information

Page maintained by Sonia Jordan
Last updated 09 December 2008
URL: http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/cps/rde/xchg/dpi/hs.xsl/cps/rde/dpi/hs.xsl/4790_7348_ENA_HTML.htm

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