Vines to 30 m, producing new growth after winter, perennial from tuber; tuber to 18–45 cm diam. Stems relatively strong, 0.6–2.5(–10) cm diam. Leaves: stipule margins entire or 2-fid, or fringed proximal to point of insertion; petiole 8–13 cm; rachis 2.5–7 cm; leaflets: stipels lanceolate, 5–18 × 0.5–1.5 mm, margins ciliate, blades light to grayish green abaxially, green adaxially, ovate to orbiculate, 8–20(–26) × 5–19(–22) cm, ± leathery, base cuneate, margins usually 3-lobed, apex acute to acuminate, surfaces appressed-pubescent. Inflorescences unbranched or with 1 lateral, 10–25(–35) cm; bracts 4–10 × 0.5–1(–2) mm; bracteoles 2–4 × 1–2 mm. Pedicels 7–15 mm. Flowers fragrant; calyx gray to golden brown, tube 3–5 mm, lobes 3–13 mm, unequal (proximal ones longer), broad-acute to acuminate; corolla ± with green or yellow spot, 10–25 × 9–16 mm, banner veined; stamens 9–22 mm; ovary 8–15 mm; style 5–8 mm, glabrous; stigma globular, often penicillate. Legumes straight or falcate, 4–13 × 0.6–1.3 cm, hairs golden brown, dense, somewhat bulbous-based. Seeds red­dish brown with black mottling, purplish, or almost black, sometimes variegated, 4–5 × 2.5–4 mm, minutely pitted; hilum relatively small; strophiole elliptic, 1 mm. 2n = 22.

Phenology: Flowering summer.
Habitat: Fields, waste places, forest edges.
Elevation: 0–900 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Loading map...

Introduced; Ont., Ala., Ark., Conn., Del., D.C., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Kans., Ky., La., Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., Miss., Mo., Nebr., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Okla., Oreg., Pa., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Va., Wash., W.Va., e Asia, introduced also in Mexico, s Europe (Italy), Pacific Islands, Australia.

Discussion

Variety lobata (kudzu) is cultivated as a specialty flour crop in Japan, as a tuber crop in New Guinea, and as a cover crop in humid (sub)tropical and warm-temperate areas of the world, mainly in Asia. Kudzu was introduced into the United States from Japan in 1876 at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition (M. A. Stewart 1997). Useful for erosion control and fodder, kudzu has become invasive in the southern United States. It is no longer recommended as a cover crop or ornamental and is banned from trade and planting in some states as a noxious weed. In China, kudzu is used medicinally, as a diaphoretic and febrifuge, and for the treatment of alcoholism, diarrhea, and dysentery (L. J. G. van der Maesen 2002).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.