Cat's Claw Creeper

Description:

Cat’s Claw Creeper (CCC) is a high climbing woody vine with stems >60mm in dia (photo 3). Leaves are opposite, compound with two leaflets and a terminal leaflet. Its name is derived from the three forked claw-like tendril that enables the plant to attach itself to tree trunks, vegetation and artificial structures such as fences. Flowers are yellow, trumpet shaped, solitary or in small clusters at leaf axils (photo 1). Pods (photo 2) are linear capsules to 50cm long with oblong winged seeds.

Habitat:

Cat’s Claw Creeper (CCC) is a major environmental weed and poses a significant threat to biodiversity in riparian and rainforest habitats in coastal and sub-coastal Qld & NSW from Victoria to Cape York. Photos were taken over a two year period between 2016 -18 along Eel & Sandy Creeks at Boompa Qld. CCC is a structural parasite of riparian & rainforest ecosystems smothering and killing all vegetation incl. mature old age trees (photos 4 & 5) A single vine can bear up to >100 seed pods and each seed pod can contain >100 seeds i.e. a minimum of 10,000 seeds per vine per annum. Although its primary mechanism for dispersal is seed, CCC’s main mechanism for persistence is its subterranean tubers.

Notes:

In Australia, CCC is a Cat 3 restricted invasive plant under the Biosecurity Act 2014 and, although it was declared a Weed of National Significance in 2012, it continued to be commercially promoted as a worthwhile addition to suburban backyard gardens up until ≈ 2017/18. Biological control is considered the best viable option, in conjunction with chemical, mechanical & manual control methods, for the long-term management of CCC. Three biological control agents have now been released: 1. Tingids (Carvalhotingis visenda (Hemiptera: Tingidae) 2007; 2. Leaf Tying Moth (Hypocosmia pyrochroma 2007 (photo 6); and 3. Jewel Beetle (Hylaeogena jureceki) 2012. Fungal pathogens are also being evaluated as potential biocontrol agents of CCC