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Pueraria montana

(Lour.) Merr.

Kudzu

GNRUnranked Found in 10 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →

GNRUnrankedGlobal Rank

Identity

Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.135319

Element CodePDFAB3E030

Record TypeSPECIES

ClassificationSpecies

Classification StatusStandard

Name CategoryVascular Plant

Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations

KingdomPlantae

PhylumAnthophyta

ClassDicotyledoneae

OrderFabales

FamilyFabaceae

GenusPueraria

Other Common Names

Japanese Arrowroot (EN) kudzu (EN) Kudzu (FR)

Concept Reference

Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.

Taxonomic Comments

The kudzu that is escaped widely in North America is called Pueraria lobata or Pueraria thunbergiana in most North American literature; Kartesz (1994 checklist and 1999 floristic synthesis) treats these plants as Pueraria montana var. lobata. No other varieties of Pueraria montana are reported from North America. LEM 3Jul95 and 30Jul02.

Conservation Status

Change Date1994-03-22

Ecology & Habitat

Other Nations (2)

CanadaNNA

Province	Rank	Native
Ontario	SNA	No

United StatesNNA

Province	Rank	Native
Indiana	SNA	No
Kentucky	SNA	No
Delaware	SNA	No
North Carolina	SNA	No
West Virginia	SNA	No
Kansas	SNA	No
Mississippi	SNA	No
Missouri	SNA	No
Tennessee	SNA	No
Ohio	SNA	No
Pennsylvania	SNA	No
Florida	SNA	No
Massachusetts	SNA	No
Louisiana	SNA	No
New Jersey	SNA	No
Maryland	SNA	No
Connecticut	SNA	No
Alabama	SNA	No
New York	SNA	No
District of Columbia	SNA	No
Virginia	SNA	No
South Carolina	SNA	No
Illinois	SNA	No
Texas	SNA	No
Hawaii	SNA	No
Arkansas	SNA	No
Georgia	SNA	No

Plant Characteristics

Economic Value (Genus)No

Roadless Areas (10)

Arkansas (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
Dismal Creek	Ozark-St. Francis National Forest	9,160

North Carolina (5)

Area	Forest	Acres
Cheoah Bald	Nantahala National Forest	7,795
Harper Creek	Pisgah National Forest	7,325
Jarrett Creek	Pisgah National Forest	7,485
Tusquitee Bald	Nantahala National Forest	13,670
Yellowhammer Branch (add.)	Nantahala National Forest	1,255

Tennessee (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
Devil's Backbone	Cherokee National Forest	4,287

Virginia (3)

Area	Forest	Acres
Bear Creek	Jefferson National Forest	18,274
New London Bridge Branch	Jefferson National Forest	844
North Mountain	Jefferson National Forest	8,377

References (1)

Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.