Sometimes we don't spot a madeira vine until it has grown around a host tree trunk and then climbed to the tree canopy. At this stage a single plant may have produced thousands of aerial tubers along its stem. In turn, each of these tubers are capable of germinating if they find the forest floor. And once the vine reaches full sun above the tree canopy, it can rapidly out-compete even mature trees, rapidly spreading and ultimately smothering them.

Because of those tubers, which grow along the vine and are easily detached, management of this weed is particularly difficult.

The vine stems are an inviting target for the inexperienced bush carer: just cut and pull the vine down. Unfortunately this action will usually result in a shower of tubers because they break off so easily. In such a case, the problem now spreads irretrievably over the surrounding forest floor. Like little land mines, these tubers can survive for years and germinate at will.

At Ekibin Creek Bushcare, our weed management practices for madeira vine depend on the size of the infestation. If the plant is small it can be carefully dug out, including the original tuber which will be close to the soil surface. The whole plant is then bagged, removed from site, and disposed as garbage.

If a vine has grown large by finding and growing up a tree trunk, then the weed management is radically different:

1. When a vine is spotted, we confirm that it is indeed madeira. Its leaves, flowers and tubers are pretty distinctive.

2. Next, we secure a jar of labelled herbicide (50/50 water and glyphosate) at the base of the vine.

3. The vine is then cut and immediately both cut ends are put in the jar and secured. It is important to do this quickly so that introduced air doesn't serve to block fluid uptake.
   
4. The herbicide will be taken up within 1 hour by the roots, stem and tubers.
5. Over time the whole plant will die. Any tubers along the vine and in the forest canopy will not germinate when they fall to the ground.