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Creeping muehlenbeckia

Status: Not Threatened

Description

Creeping muehlenbeckia (Muehlenbeckia axillaris), also known as pōhuehue (Māori), creeping pohuehue, creeping muehlenbeckia,  creeping wire vine, sprawling wire vine, and matted lignum and is a low dense shrub, forming wiry mats of small dark green leaves, with mats up to about 1m in diameter. Native to New Zealand and Tasmania, New South Wales and Victoria in Australia, it spreads along the ground and even underground in rocky areas as well as riverbeds. It flowers prolifically in summer with masses of small creamy flowers 4-8 mm in diameter, and borne in groups of up to 3 in the axils. Male and female flowers often occur on the same plant and the female flowers form small opaque white fruit.

Distribution map; when page opens, just click on the green ‘search’ button without changing any of the settings. On braided rivers it especially grows on the edges of the banks.

More information

Conservation efforts

As creeping muehlenbeckia is common, there are no specific conservation activities, however controlling invasive weed species is beneficial for all endemic plants.