Moth Catcher
Araujia sericifera
NEMBA: Category 1b
English: Moth Catcher, Moth Plant. Cruel Plant, Cruel Vine, False Choko, Bladderflower, White Bladderflower, Moth Vine, Kapok Vine, Peruvian Creeper
Afrikaans: Motvanger
Historical scientific names: Araujia albens, Araujia hortorum, Physianthus albens
Araujia sericifera, known as the Moth Catcher or Cruel Plant, is a vigorous, woody vine native to South America that has become an invasive species in many regions. Its white to cream-coloured flowers contain a unique trapping mechanism that captures moths and other pollinators by entangling their legs in sticky pollen masses, earning its intriguing nickname.
This plant also produces large, distinctive, bladder-like fruits that eventually split open to release hundreds of parachute-like seeds, ready to float away and start a new takeover.
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Origin:
Native to subtropical and temperate regions of South America, particularly Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina.
Distinguishing features:
Opposite, oval to heart-shaped leaves that are dark green above and paler, often hairy, underneath.
Fragrant, bell-shaped, white to pale pink flowers that can sometimes trap insects.
Large, distinctive, pear-shaped or bladder-like green fruits (pods) that become woody and brown as they mature.
Seeds with a tuft of long, silky, white hairs, enabling wind dispersal.
Produces a milky, sticky sap when stems or leaves are broken.
Overall appearance:
A vigorous, perennial, twining vine that can climb high into trees and over structures, forming dense curtains of foliage. It has slender, hairy stems that become woody with age and exude a milky sap when broken.
Height:
Can climb up to 5 to 10 metres or higher, often smothering the canopies of host plants.
Width:
Can spread extensively, covering large areas of ground and vegetation as it twines and scrambles.
Leaves:
Leaves are arranged in opposite pairs along the stems. They are ovate to oblong or somewhat triangular, with a pointed tip and a rounded or slightly heart-shaped base. They are dark green and relatively smooth on the upper surface, and paler green to whitish with a dense covering of fine hairs on the underside. They typically measure 3 to 12 centimetres long and 1.5 to 6 centimetres wide, and feel somewhat thick or leathery. It may lose some leaves in colder conditions but generally retains foliage year-round in warmer climates.
Flowers:
Small, fragrant, bell-shaped, and typically white, cream, or pale pink, sometimes with darker streaks inside. They are about 2 to 3 centimetres in diameter and appear in clusters of 2 to 5 in the leaf axils (where the leaf meets the stem). These flowers have a unique mechanism where insects (particularly moths) can get their proboscides (feeding tubes) stuck in the flower's structure, leading to common names like "Moth Catcher" or "Cruel Plant." The plant is hermaphroditic, meaning individual flowers contain both male and female reproductive organs.
Flowering season:
In South Africa, flowers typically appear from late spring through summer and into autumn, generally from November to April.
Fruits:
Large, distinctive, pear-shaped or bladder-like pods (follicles) that are initially spongy and green, resembling a small choko. They can be 6 to 12 centimetres long and 3 to 7 centimetres wide. As they mature, they turn brown and woody, eventually splitting open lengthwise to release their numerous seeds.
Seeds:
Numerous blackish, flat, D-shaped seeds, about 5 to 8 millimetres long. Each seed is topped with a prominent tuft of long, white, silky hairs, approximately 20 to 30 millimetres long. These "parachutes" enable the seeds to be carried long distances by wind. Each fruit can contain several hundred seeds.
Bark:
The young stems are greenish and finely hairy, becoming greyish-green and more woody with age. They contain a milky, sticky sap. There isn't a distinct "bark" like that of a tree.
Thorns:
None.
Wood:
The stems are initially flexible and herbaceous, but become tough and woody, especially near the base, allowing the vine to support itself as it climbs.
Roots:
Develops a fibrous root system that can be extensive, anchoring the vine and allowing it to absorb nutrients and water efficiently.
Soil type:
Tolerant of a wide range of soil types, including poor, degraded, and disturbed soils. It prefers well-drained conditions but can adapt to various moisture levels.
Aspect:
Thrives in full sun to partial shade. It is often found in disturbed areas, forest edges, and along waterways where light is abundant for climbing.
Ediblity:
Not considered edible. The milky sap can be irritating, and the plant is not cultivated for human consumption.
Toxicity:
The milky sap of Araujia sericifera contains irritating compounds and can cause skin irritation (dermatitis) and eye irritation in sensitive individuals. The seeds are also considered poisonous if ingested.
Uses:
Primarily introduced globally as an ornamental garden plant due to its attractive foliage and fragrant flowers. However, its aggressive growth and invasive nature have led to it being largely abandoned for cultivation in many areas.
Ecology:
Araujia sericifera is a serious invasive species in South Africa. Its rapid growth allows it to quickly cover and smother native vegetation, including large trees, by blocking sunlight and the sheer weight of its foliage. This leads to the decline and death of indigenous plants, reducing biodiversity.
It produces a large quantity of wind-dispersed seeds, which spread easily into natural areas.
The milky sap is an irritant, and its flowers can trap native insects, including moths and sometimes bees, hindering their ecological role.
It competes with native species for light, water, and nutrients.
Distribution and habitat:
Widespread and highly problematic across many parts of South Africa, particularly prevalent in the Eastern Cape (including the coastal areas), KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape, Free State, Gauteng, and Mpumalanga. It commonly invades disturbed areas, urban open spaces, gardens, roadsides, riverbanks, coastal bush, and forest margins.
Derivation of name:
The genus name Araujia honours António de Matos Araujo, a 19th-century Portuguese plant collector.
The species epithet sericifera is Latin, meaning "silk-bearing" or "silk-producing," referring to the silky hairs attached to its seeds, which aid in their dispersal.
Historical aspects:
Introduced to various parts of the world, including South Africa, during the 19th century as an ornamental plant due to its attractive flowers and foliage. Its ability to grow rapidly and its prolific seed production, combined with efficient wind dispersal, led to its escape from gardens and subsequent widespread invasion of natural and disturbed areas. Its invasive tendencies became more apparent over time.
Interesting facts:
This plant has a cheeky nickname: "Cruel Plant"! That's because its pretty flowers have a clever trap – they can sometimes snag the tongues or legs of visiting insects like moths and bees, holding them captive!
Its fruits look like strange, swollen green balloons or tiny, unripe watermelons before they dry out and burst open.
When those fruits finally pop, they release a whole army of "parachute seeds" – each seed has its own silky white fluff, letting it float on the wind for miles to find a new home.
Break a stem or leaf, and you'll find it oozes a sticky, white, milky sap. This sap is actually a bit irritating, so it's best to handle this plant with gloves!
Friendly alternatives:
Baboon Grape
Rhoicissus digitata
Traveller’s Joy
Clematis brachiata
Plant type:
Semi-deciduous, evergreen, scrambler, climber, vine or perennial
Plant family:
Apocynaceae (Greek plant name) - Order: Gentianales