Plant · GBIF taxon 2888859
Scrambling pohuehue
Muehlenbeckia complexaAlso known as Maidenhair Vine, Wire Vine, Angel Vine, Australian Ivy
Scrambling pohuehue forms dense, tangled masses of fine, dark stems clad in tiny rounded leaves, smothering surrounding rocks and shrubs along coastal and lowland landscapes. Small greenish flowers bloom in summer, followed by white translucent fleshy cups holding dark glossy seeds that attract birds and lizards. This hardy vine plays a vital ecological role by stabilizing dunes and providing critical shelter for native invertebrates.
ClimberVineCoastal
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (Photosynthesis)
Predators
- Browsing Mammals
- Lepidoptera Larvae
- Snails
ThreatsHabitat loss, invasive weed competition, land development
HabitatsCoastal dunes, rocky bluffs, forest margins, and scrubland
Life span10 to 30 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderCaryophyllales
- FamilyPolygonaceae
- GenusMuehlenbeckia
- SpeciesMuehlenbeckia complexa
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance; wild berries have toxic look-alikes so never ingest based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
- Identification: Look for dense, wire-like mats climbing over rocks, coastal banks, or adjacent shrubs.
- Wildlife Watching: Check the tangled interior of stems for sheltering native lizards and roosting birds.
Frequent Companion Frequent Companion Close Relative 
Close Relative (c) Jon Sullivan, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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