Coral vine

Common name: Coral vine, Coralita, bee bush

Scientific name: Antigonon leptopus

Family: Polygonaceae

Origin

Native to Mexico and possibly also parts of Central America.

Plant characters

It is a perennial climbing vine with stems often climbing up over vegetation.

Stem:

Antigonon leptopus is a fast-growing climbing vine that holds on via tendrils, and is able to reach 25 ft or more in length. 

Leaf:

It has cordate (heart-shaped), sometimes triangular leaves 2½ to 7½ cm long. 

Flowers:

The flowers are borne in panicles, clustered along the rachis.  Producing pink from spring to autumn

Roots:

it forms underground tubers and large rootstocks. 

Fruits:

The small brown fruit (i.e. achenes) are cone-shaped or three-angled (8-12 mm long and 4-7 mm wide) and shiny in appearance. These fruit usually remain hidden within the enlarged and persistent remains of the 'petals' (8-20 long and 4-15 mm wide), which turn dull pink and then eventually brown as they age.

Seeds:

It is a prolific seed producer. The seeds float on water. The fruit and seeds are eaten and spread by a wide range of animals such as pigs, racoons and birds. The tubers will resprout if the plant is cut back or damaged by frost.Tubers and root segments can also be spread by the movement of soil.

Varieties:

Antigonon leptopus - pink flower

Antigonon leptopus alba - white flower

Climatic requirements:

A. leptopus prefers to grow in areas with warm temperatures and high precipitation at low elevation (i.e., from sea level to about 1000 meters. 

It tolerates drought well by shedding leaves and re-growing strongly after rains. 

Foliage dies back at temperatures just below freezing and the roots die if the soil freezes.

Soil:

A. leptopus has the ability to grow in almost any soil type including coral-derived soils, sandy soils, seasonally waterlogged soils, and alkaline limestone soils.

Propagation:

Propagated through seeds, tubers and suckers.

Uses:

Ornamental:

A. leptopus is used as potted plant.

A. leptopus is commonly planted as an ornamental in gardens and yards and as a “fence cover plant” in warm climates in tropical and subtropical regions. 

Human food and beverage:

It is also used as a nectar source for honey production.

Antigonon leptopus was prepared for consumption by the aboriginal inhabitants of Baja California in a way somewhat reminiscent of preparing popcorn. 

Medicinal:

A. leptopus is also used in traditional medicine in the West Indies and Central America. For example, tea prepared from the leaves, aerial parts, and flowers of A. leptopus is used as a remedy for colds, throat constriction, and pain relief in Jamaica, St. Lucia, Mexico, and Trinidad-Tobago.

Environmental impact:

Antigonon leptopus is regarded as an environmental weed in many parts of the world. 

A. leptopus is an aggressive invasive vine with the potential to collapse native plant communities by displacing native species, changing community structures and altering ecological functions. This fast-growing vine forms dense colonies that engulf native vegetation, climbing high into forest canopies and shading-out herbs, shrubs, and trees in the understory of native forests. Consequently, in just one or two growing seasons, this species can completely out-compete native vegetation communities.

Reference:

1.  https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/112316#11A2F944-BCE0-45C8-8F17-49AE8658208D

2.  https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antigonon_leptopus

3.  https://keyserver.lucidcentral.org/weeds/data/media/Html/antigonon_leptopus.htm

4.  https://keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/v3/eafrinet/weeds/key/weeds/Media/Html/Antigonon_leptopus_(Coral_Creeper).htm

5.  http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/White%20Coral%20Vine.html