Family: Convolvulaceae
Common name: Grape-leaf Wood Rose, Manja vayaravalli, Manja kolambi valli, Navli, Grape glory, Bombay-nawal
Grape leaf wood rose is a quick-growing invasive climber that is very commonly seen in the wild in different parts of India. This plant is also widely distributed throughout Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, and other tropical countries.
Plant Characteristics
Grape leaf Woodrose plants can climb very quickly reaching a height of over 4-6 m, with a twining stem that is reddish-purple in color. Young stems and buds are covered with thin white hairs, giving it a fussy appearance.
Young stems are deep red in color whereas the older ones can be greenish-red or deep red, depending on the age of the plant.
Leaves of the Grape leaf wood rose are dark green and beautifully lobed, each leaf having 5 to 7 distinct lobes. These grape-like leaves give the plant its name vitifolia, and also its common name Grape leaf wood rose.
Younger leaves have a distinct reddish tint, and look very pretty on the plant. Each leaf is 12-18 cm in diameter, with a similar length and width.
Grape leaf wood rose plants have a thick foliage, capable of smothering plants on which they grow. These plants can climb on fences, walls, or surrounding vegetation, making them very invasive in nature.
Flowers of the Grape leaf wood rose are yellow in color and tubular, about 4 to 6 cm in diameter. They grow in small clusters of 5 to 6, with one or two flowers being open at a time.
These flowers do not have distinct petals, but have the typical Origami folds of the Morning Glory family. Flowering happens during spring and summer.
Grape leaf wood rose plants also produce small fruits that contain seeds, but the plant can reproduce vegetatively and also through seeds.
Growing tips
Grey leaf Woodrose plants are considered invasive weeds in agricultural land in many parts of Kerala. They grow very quickly climbing on surrounding vegetation, cutting off sunlight, and smothering the young plants.
These plants need good sunlight, but they can also grow in the partial shade of larger trees. They do not need regular watering, fertilization, pruning, or any special care.
Once established in the soil, these plants can spread very quickly covering large areas, making them very difficult or impossible to remove.
Even small pieces of stem left on the ground after removing the parent plants, can produce roots from the nodes, thus helping in propagation.
Since flowering is erratic and not very abundant, these plants are usually not grown as ornamentals in home gardens.
Uses of Grape leaf wood rose
Though these plans are considered highly invasive, they were used in traditional herbal medicine in the treatment of fever, smallpox, stomach pain, and urinary ailments.
Their harmful effects far outweigh the benefits, and hence these plants are not grown for their medicinal uses anymore.
Since Grape leaf wood rose plants grow very quickly, they can produce large masses of roughage which can be used as mulch to cover the land. This should be done carefully, as the plants can propagate from small cuttings and become a nuisance.
Propagation
Propagation is through seeds and stem cuttings.
The plant is capable of self-propagation through the seeds, or through small pieces of stem that fall on the ground.
Photographed at: Multiple locations in Goa and Thrissur
