| chocolate vine |
USDA PLANTS Symbol: AKQU USDA ARS GRIN: 2103 ITIS: 18857 |
| Akebia quinata (Houtt.) Dcne. | |
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Taxonomic Rank: Magnoliopsida: Ranunculales: Lardizabalaceae |
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| Synonym(s): fiveleaf akebia | |
Chocolate vine, also called fiveleaf akebia, is a deciduous to evergreen climbing or trailing vine that invades forested areas throughout the eastern United States. The twining vines are green when young, turning brown with age. The leaves are palmately compound with up to five, 1 ½ to 3 in. (2.5-7.6 cm) long, oval leaflets. Flowering occurs in the mid-spring, when small, purple to red, fragrant flowers develop. Fruit are purple seed pods that contain white pulp and small black seeds. Fruits are rarely produced. Chocolate vine is shade tolerant and invades forested habitats. The dense mat of vines formed can displace native understory species. It can also climb into, smother, and kill small trees and shrubs. Chocolate vine is native to eastern Asia and was first introduced into the United States in 1845 as an ornamental. |
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Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources
- Weed of the Week - USDA Forest Service
- Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas - National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- Weeds Gone Wild: Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas - Plant Conservation Alliance
- Fact Sheet - Pennsylvania Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources
| Selected Images from Invasive.org | View All Images at Invasive.org |
 Foliage; James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); Nancy Loewenstein, Auburn University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Foliage; Nancy Loewenstein, Auburn University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Stem(s); James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Stem(s); James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); Nancy Loewenstein, Auburn University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Fruit(s); immature James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); Nancy Fraley, USDI National Park Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Seedling(s); Nancy Loewenstein, Auburn University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Fruit(s); immature fruit James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Foliage; James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Shep Zedaker, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Shep Zedaker, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; dormant season Shep Zedaker, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Steve Manning, Invasive Plant Control, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Steve Manning, Invasive Plant Control, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
Taxonomic References:
- USDA, NRCS. 2001. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.1, National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.
Invasive Listing Sources:
- Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, 1994.
- Jil M. Swearingen, Survey of invasive plants occurring on National Park Service lands, 2000-2007
- Mid-Atlantic Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2005
- New Jersey Department of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry, 2004
- Nonnative Invasive Species in Southern Forest and Grassland Ecosystems
- Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust, Pennsylvania.
- Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, 1999.
- WeedUS - Database of Plants Invading Natural Areas in the United States
- Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council Category 4
- Kentucky Exotic Pest Plant Council Significant Threat
- South Carolina Exotic Pest Plant Council Watch B
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