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Origin
Kudzu was first introduced into the United States for the 1876 Exposition in Philadelphia. It is native to Asia where its vines and roots were used by the Chinese to make a medicinal tea and paper.
Known Distribution
Kudzu is found in the southeastern region of the United States and has been creeping northwards. Kudzu prefers mild winters, summer temperatures above 80 degrees and annual rain fall above 40 inches.
Habitat
This invasive vine is most often found in open, sunny areas such as forest edges, abandoned fields, and along roadsides.
Ecology
Kudzu is an extremely vigorous vine with large, broad leaves capable of smothering native vegetation. Kudzu is also capable of killing and uprooting trees with their added weight and extreme girdling effects. This invasive vine is capable of expanding at a rate of 1 foot per day.
Identification
This climbing perennial vine in the legume family (Fabaceae) can reach from 32 to 100 feet in length with a diameter of up to 4 inches. The massive tap roots can reach a diameter of 7 inches, with a length of 6 feet and weigh as much as 400 pounds. Thirty vines may grow from a single root.
Leaves are deciduous and compound with 3 broad leaflets up to 4 inches across. Leaves alternate along the stem.
Flowers, Fruits and Seeds: Purple fragrant flowers bloom in late summer. Fruits are brown, hairy flattened seed pods.
Dispersal: Kudzu is pollinated only by the giant resin bee. However, it is capable of vegetative reproduction by runners and rhizomes. Vines may also root at nodes to form new plants.
Prevention and Control
Kudzu can only be controlled by destroying the massive root system. This can be accomplished somewhat successfully with herbicides. Biological controls are still under investigation.
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