Mikania micrantha Kunth

 Although it blooms all year, Mikania micrantha exhibits abundant flowering during short-length days. During this period, the flowers are visited by numerous flower-eating insects feeding on nectar.

China: Mikania micrantha flowers and fruits all year round.
Nicaragua: Mikania micrantha flowers and fruits all year round.
Pacific: Mikania micrantha flowers during the dry season (September to October) and bears fruit from November to February.
West Indies: Mikania micrantha flowers and fruits almost all year round.

Taxonomic problems between Mikania cordata, M. micrantha (present in the 4 DOM) and M. scandens

Many publications from before 1980/1990 referring to Mikania cordata and M. scandens in Asia probably refer to M. micrantha, whereas those from West Africa concerning M. cordata are probably correct.
M. micrantha (originating from South America) was probably introduced into Taiwan in the 1990s but was only discovered there in 2001 due to a
misidentification with the native M. cordata.
The Mikania genus consists of 250 species of lianas, most of which are native to tropical America. These species have a kind of stipule inserted between the petioles at the nodes giving rise to young shoots. These structures tend to whiten on the branches as they age and are absent from the flowering branches.

Interspecific differences in the shape of these stipules as well as some other criteria distinguish the species:

M. cordata: stipules not membranous and ear-shaped; 40-45 bristles make up the achene's pappus. Distribution Temperate and tropical Asia, Pacific
M. micrantha: membranous, semi-translucent stipules; 32 to 38 bristles make up the achene's pappus. Distribution: tropical and central America.
M. scandens : White, slightly purplish flowers; 30 to 35 bristles make up the achene pappus. Distribution: Eastern North America.
In addition, the inflorescences of M. cordata are larger than those of M. micrantha.

Mikania micrantha can easily be confused with Mikania cordata (Burm.f.) B.L.Rob., especially in South East Asia where both species occur. The criteria for distinguishing these two species are :

M. cordata: leaves, involucral bracts and corolla without gland, involucral bracts 5-7 mm, corolla narrowly campanulate, achene pappus reddish. Species present in South East Asia, Madagascar and Africa.

M. micrantha: leaves, bracts and corolla with pale glands, bracts 3.5 mm, corolla broadly campanulate, achene pappus white never reddish. Species present in South East Asia, Mauritius, Central and South America.
 

Mikania micrantha is a ubiquitous species, very common in tropical areas. It is very pervasive in cities and fields that it covers fences and hedges and sometimes the ground. It forms large, thick formations in abandoned areas. It is common in degraded forests, riparian forests, roadsides, pastures and crops. Sunny or shady environments wet 0-2000 m altitude. It grows all the better when the soil is fertile and air is humid.

Mauritius : Mikania micrantha is mostly present in wetlands and perhumid areas in Mauritius, growing on wasteland, riverbanks, in the sugarcane fields and banana plantations.
Nicaragua: Mikania micrantha is a common weed in waste ground and open areas throughout the country, from 0 to 1,500 m altitude.
West Indies: Mikania micrantha is a ubiquitous species, very common in tropical areas. It is very invasive in cities and fields where it covers fences and hedges and sometimes the ground. It forms large, thick formations in abandoned areas. it occurs from 0 to 700 of elevation.

Herbarium pictures ReCOLNAT: https://explore.recolnat.org/search/botanique/simplequery=Mikania%2520micrantha