Muehlenbeckia: "nature's band-aid"

Two of the five Muehlenbeckia species in New Zealand are woody vines: pōhuehue (M. australis) and smalled-leaved pōhuehue (M. complexa). The other species predominantly creep along the ground, not reaching significant heights.

These two vine species play an important role as "nature's band-aid*". Like many vines, they grow in open and disturbed places such as forest edges, young scrubland, landslide scars and cliff tops. Pōhuehue in particular can grow very densely in these high-light environments and effectively stabilise soil, buffer temperature and humidity, and capture energy in the area. These characteristics act like a "band-aid" by preventing further disturbance (e.g. further soil loss after a landslide) and creating conditions in which other species can establish.

*Quote from ecologist Catherine Beard

Pohuehue (Muehlenbeckia australis) growing densely at the forest edge. Photo: C. Kirby.

Muehlenbeckia species are often the only native species remaining in highly-modified landscapes and provide important habitat for diverse insect populations (QEII National Trust). They produce shiny black seeds within sweet white flesh that is thought to be a food source for insects and lizards.

Fleshy fruit of Muehlenbeckia are a food source for insects and lizards. Photo: Phil Bendle.

An interesting situation arises when pōhuehue establishes on the edges of restoration plantings or valuable crops and the ecological values of these species have to be weighed against the competitive nature of their dense growth form. The result is that these species are often treated as weeds and removed.

Dense growth form of pohuehue (Muehlenbeckia australis). Photo: Phil Bendle.