Species Identification

Species Identification

A combination of three traits distinguish MAM from other vegetation found in the northeast:

1. Leaves shaped like triangles

2. Curved barbs or prickles

3. Saucer-shaped leaves at nodes (called ocrea)

Other traits:

New! Fruits

Seedlings (coming soon)

Check our SIMILAR SPECIES guide

 


1: Leaves shaped like triangles

Mile-a-minutevine (MAM) has distinctly triangular leaves. The leaves are approximately equilateral without lobes or indentations.
Other plants may have similar vining habits and/or barbs but different leaf shapes.

MAMTriangularleaf
A single, triangular leaf of MAM, Photos courtesy Todd Mervosh, CT Agricultural Experiment Station
MAMleaves
A single, triangular leaf of MAM Photos courtesy Todd Mervosh, CT Agricultural Experiment Station

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2: Curved prickles or barbs

Mile-a-minute Vine has small barbs along the stems and leaf petioles and sometimes along the leaf midribs.

(Also, please note the blue and green fruits in the picture, which may be present after mid-July)

MAMfruits
Photo courtesy Todd Mervosh, CT Agricultural Experiment Station

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3: Saucer-shaped leaves at nodes (ocrea)

Mile-a-minute vine has small saucer-shaped leaves called ocrea at nodes and branching points.

 LesOchrea SEP2008dsx135toddochrea4

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Whole Plant Photo

ReneeSullivanMAMphoto
A single mile-a-minute plant. Note the triangular leaves and visible ocrea at nodes. Photo courtesy Renee Sullivan.

 

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Mile-a-minute fruit information

Fruits of mile-a-minute develop in early summer and ripen from blue to green as the season progresses. When attempting to control mile-a-minute, it is important to note that GREEN FRUITS MAY STILL GERMINATE.

SEP2008dsx135
Photo courtesy of Donna Ellis
mamfru7
Photo courtesy of Les Mehrhoff .