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Description: The Ivy Gourd (Coccinia grandis) is an alien, dioecious, perennial, herbaceous vine. Its stems are mostly glabrous (without hairs or projections), which are produced annually from a tuberous rootstock. Its leaves are simple, 5-lobed, broadly ovate, and alternately arranged. In fact, the Ivy Gourd can be rather easily distinguished by its five-point, palm-shaped leaves. The white star-shaped flowers distinguish this weed from other vines, and are usually solitary and produced along the stem. The fruit starts as a greenish, pickly-size unit that becomes a smooth, bright red, ovoid to ellipsoid berry 2.5-6 cm (~1-3 in) long (see below under distribution for the invasiveness of this species).
Distribution: The Ivy Gourd is native to parts ofAfrica, India and Asia. First recorded in the Pacific Islands in 1940 in the Fijian Islands (Whistler 1995), Coccinia grandis was subsequently introduced in the region of Microneisa, specifically within the locations of the FSM, RMI, CNMI, and Guam. It was brought to Guam and Saipan in the 1980s and become an invasive species on those islands. It can be found in agricultural areas, disturbed areas, natural forest, planted forests. Each of the smooth, bright red, ovoid to ellipsoid berry fruits of C. grandis contains many seeds that facilitate the rapid spread of this weed to new locations. Spreading of this invasive vine usually occurs via rats and birds that comsume the fruit and seeds. Humans, who plant it for food or ornamental purposes, also contribute to the movement of this weed to new locations and islands. Not only is C. grandis a noxious vine that smothers vegetation and other objects forming a dense canopy, it also acts as a host for melon flies and is a reservoir for other crop pests possibly including ring spot virus. It has become invasive within Micronesia, as on Guam and Saipan where it is a severe pest in gardens, on utility poles, roadsides, and in natural areas. It has been found growing in the Marshall Islands, at least on Majuro and Wake Atolls, since early in the 21st century (e.g., Vande Velde 2003:87); in Marshallese, C. grandis has been referred to as “kiuri awia” (which means “wild cucumber,” and is reportedly “a name arbitrarily contrived during a weed workshop in connection with the South Pacific Commission” when this species was identified “as one of the top-ten invasives for the Marshall Islands” (e.g., Vande Velde 2003:87).
Uses: To some extent, the introduction of Coccinia grandis (the Ivy or Scarlet Gourd) into parts of Micronesia may have been for ornamental reasons or for food or even medicine since it is known to be used as a vegetable and medicinal source in parts of Asia and on some Pacific Islands (e.g., see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coccinia_grandis). However, as noted above, C. grandis is a suffocating vine that has been demonstrating its serious, damaging effects on the forests of Saipan. Space et al. (2000) described the situation at the turn of Millenium for some areas of Micronesia:
“The vines climb over trees and form such dense cover that the forest underneath is completely shaded out and destroyed. It is also invasive in Guam and Hawai'i and a horticultural variety is present on Pohnpei. The proximity of the plant in Pohnpei and Guam poses a threat to Chuuk.”