{{Short description|Genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae}} {{Automatic taxobox |image = Starr_031108-0005_Mikania_scandens.jpg |image_caption = ''Mikania scandens'' |display_parents = 2 |taxon = Mikania |authority = Willd. 1803, conserved name not F.W.Schmidt 1795 (Asteraceae) nor Neck. 1790 (Moraceae) |synonyms_ref = <ref>[http://dixon.iplantcollaborative.org/CompositaeWeb/default.aspx?Page=NameDetails&TabNum=0&NameId=ed8eb937-82f3-4818-88e1-5ee779dd215e Flann, C (ed) 2009+ Global Compositae Checklist ] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20141219171721/http://dixon.iplantcollaborative.org/CompositaeWeb/default.aspx?Page=NameDetails&TabNum=0&NameId=ed8eb937-82f3-4818-88e1-5ee779dd215e |date=2014-12-19 }}</ref> |synonyms = * ''Morrenia'' <small>Kunze</small> * ''Kanimia'' <small>Gardner</small> * ''Corynanthelium'' <small>Kunze</small> * ''Wikstroemia'' <small>Spreng.</small> * ''Carelia'' <small>Juss. ex Cav.</small> * ''Catophyllum'' <small>Pohl ex Baker</small> * ''Willoughbya'' <small>Neck. ex Kuntze</small> * ''Willugbaeya'' <small>Neck.</small> }} [[File:Mikania micrantha at Kadavoor.jpg|thumb|''Mikania micrantha'']]

'''''Mikania''''' is a genus of about 450<ref name="fna">{{cite web |url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=120704 |title=Mikania |work=Flora of North America}}</ref> species of plants in the tribe Eupatorieae within the family Asteraceae.

The name honors the Czech botanist Johann Christian Mikan, 1743–1814.<ref name="fna"/> Members of the genus are stem twiners and lianas and are common in the neotropical flora. ''Mikania'' originates from South America. A few species, such as ''Mikania scandens'', are found in temperate areas of North and South America, and nine species are known from the Old World tropics.<ref name="fna"/> As with other plants in the tribe Eupatorieae, the flowers have disc florets and no ray florets.

The species ''Mikania laevigata'' and ''Mikania glomerata'', also known as guaco, are popular in herbal medicine.

''Mikania micrantha'' is a widespread weed in the tropics. It grows very quickly (as fast as 80&nbsp;mm in 24 hours for a young plant) and covers other plants.<ref>{{cite journal |title=INVASIVES: Newsletter of the Asia-Pacific Forest Invasive Species Network (APFISN) |url=http://www.fs.fed.us/global/topic/invasives/feb2007.pdf |volume=8 |date=February 2007}}</ref> People have looked into controlling it with herbicides, parasitic plants, fungi and insects.

==Selected species== *''Mikania andrei'' (Ecuador) *''Mikania batatifolia'' (Florida and West Indies)<ref>{{cite web |work=Flora of North America |url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=250067190 |title=Mikania batatifolia de Candolle}}</ref> *''Mikania capensis'' (Africa) *''Mikania chimborazensis'' (Ecuador) *''Mikania cordata'' Old World Tropics *''Mikania cordifolia'' (northern Argentina to southeastern United States (Texas to Florida))<ref>{{cite web |work=Flora of North America |url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242428429 |title=Mikania cordifolia (Linnaeus f.) Willdenow}}</ref> *''Mikania cuencana'' (Ecuador) *''Mikania harlingii'' (Ecuador) *''Mikania iodotricha'' (Ecuador) *''Mikania iserniana'' (Ecuador) *''Mikania jamesonii'' (Ecuador) *''Mikania micrantha'' (widespread weed in many tropical areas including southern Florida) *''Mikania millei'' (Ecuador) *''Mikania natalensis'' (Africa) *''Mikania oreophila'' (Brazil) *''Mikania pulverulenta'' (Ecuador) *''Mikania seemannii'' (Ecuador) *''Mikania scandens'' (Mexico, Bahamas, and eastern United States as far north as Maine + Michigan)<ref>{{cite web |work=Flora of North America |url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=220008598 |title=Mikania scandens (Linnaeus) Willdenow}}</ref> *''Mikania stereolepis'' (Ecuador) *''Mikania tafallana'' (Ecuador)

== References == {{Reflist|30em}} {{Commons category-inline|Mikania}}

{{Americana Poster}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q2698264}} {{Authority control}}

Category:Mikania Category:Asteraceae genera Category:Flora of Southern America Category:Taxa named by Carl Ludwig Willdenow