Mikania micrantha H.B.K.

Common Name : Mile a minute
Family : Asteraceae

HABIT

A CREEPING PERENNIAL.

STEMS

MUCH-BRANCHED, SCRAMBLING, TWINING, SLENDERVINE; HERBACEOUS TO SEMI-WOODY, BRANCHED, RIBBED, SPARSELY PUBESCENT OR GLABROUS.

LEAVES

SIMPLE, OPPOSITE, GLABROUS, THIN, BROADLY OVATE, SHALLOWLY OR COARSELY TOOTHED, TRIANGULAR OR OVATE, TIP ACUMINATE, BLADE 4-13 CM LONG, 2-9 CM WIDE, 3-7 NERVED; PETIOLES TENDRILIFORM, 2-9 CM LONG .

FLOWERS

INFLORESCENCE A CORYMBOSE PANICLE WITH SUBCYMOSE BRANCHES, 3-6 CM LONG BY 3-10 CM WIDE; FLOWERS SMALL, WHITE OR CREAM-COLORED, ACTINOMORPHIC, 4.5-6 MM LONG, IN LEAF AXILS OR ON TERMINAL SHOOTS.

FRUITS

ACHENE; SOMEWHAT FLATTENED, ELLIPTIC, 4-RIBBED WITH SHORT, WHITE HAIRS ALONG THE RIBS, WITH A TUFT OF WHITE PAPPUS AT THE SUMMIT, GLANDULAR, 1.2-1.8 MM LONG, DARK GREY TO BLACK.