Hi, folks. I'm an English expat living in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico, and very new here. So a big hello to everyone. Location of Leon in Google maps - 21.140717, -101.672534 Ordinarily, I wouldn't just join a forum and immediately ask for help, but I need your help with a plague plant that is getting out of control and smothering all our trees. The vine is not particular with tree type and is happy on Mezquite, Pirúl, Casuarina, White cedar, pine, Cypress, huizache, mulberry tree, peach trees, apple trees. You name it. It's a vine like plant that starts as a (very) pine-sappy seed (pic 1), that I believe sticks to birds that brush by and then sticks to other trees they land on. Some of the locals say it is eaten and pooped out by birds, but I don't think this is the case as there's no evidence of bird poop around most of the seedlings. (Google pics. I hope the preview works) Pic 1 https://photos.google.com/share/AF1...?key=S2lLcTZnczVsb2g2ejZoM2o2WHZyd193bzFKT0JR Even in the immense heat and dry weather we are currently experiencing, the plant grows very quickly and snakes along any nearby trees. https://photos.google.com/share/AF1...?key=S2lLcTZnczVsb2g2ejZoM2o2WHZyd193bzFKT0JR Examples of the leaves and flowering buds - Young https://photos.google.com/share/AF1...?key=S2lLcTZnczVsb2g2ejZoM2o2WHZyd193bzFKT0JR Mature https://photos.google.com/share/AF1...?key=S2lLcTZnczVsb2g2ejZoM2o2WHZyd193bzFKT0JR Vine and vine union - https://photos.google.com/share/AF1...?key=S2lLcTZnczVsb2g2ejZoM2o2WHZyd193bzFKT0JR https://photos.google.com/share/AF1...?key=S2lLcTZnczVsb2g2ejZoM2o2WHZyd193bzFKT0JR Sorry, no pics of the flowers as they are not flowering at the moment. I hope these pics are enough, and clear enough for identification. We currently treat the issue by removing what we can by hand, but the Mezquite trees are big wide trees with thin closely packed branches covered in vicious spikes that puncture all types of clothing and gloves. People used these spikes as needles for sewing leather. https://photos.google.com/share/AF1...?key=S2lLcTZnczVsb2g2ejZoM2o2WHZyd193bzFKT0JR They are also a protected species under Mexican law, so we can't cut anything without official permission. Any advice or help in identifying this plant, and more specifically, eliminating it without hurting our carefully tended trees would be greatly appreciated. I am happy to answer any questions and supply any number of photos requested. Thanks. David.
Hi David Is it growing out of the ground? If so. Does it have its own root system when you lift it out of the ground? It looks like a mistletoe to me. Mistletoe are parasitic plants that germinate onto host plants
No. Unfortunately, I can't say I've seen it ground based at any point. We do also have Passion flowers, which are also kind of invasive, in a pretty way, and these do have a ground rooting vine that is easy to identify. So, I do know what you mean by coming from the ground. But these vines appear purely parasitic by nature. Thanks for your response. David.
Hi, Kind of wish you posted your photos here as attachments, so that the photos don't disappear eventually... (since it seems like others might learn from this thread, particularly if they are having the same issue) I think this is a member of Struthanthus. You can read about the genus in the first few pages of this document: https://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_gtr098/rmrs_gtr098_001_008.pdf After that, you can browse through images of Struthanthus on Naturalista: Muérdagos (Genus Struthanthus) · NaturaLista I've not made it as far as Léon, only the city of Guanajuato--maybe next time I visit!
Thanks for the links. Looks like an interesting read. I tried embedding the pics, but they never appeared for some reason? Probably user error. I then tried Photobucket that insisted I pay them. Eventually ended up with Google pictures. I apologise if they cause an issue. Thanks for your kind response. David.
are your photos in your iphone? it is very easy to embed --- and i am old techno-peasant give it a try i hope it works we are a happy easygoing crowd here in BC where is your town --- on the west or east side of mex? not sure what the coordinates mean cu they are not a live link ie i cannot view without copy and paste i think you are near lake chapala - a popular longtime place for Am and Cdn people. the gardens are so lovely - lots of us wish we could have your plants year round. thx!
