Family: Polygonaceae, Buckwheat view all from this family

Description Introduced. A very fast-growing vine with perfectly triangular, bright green leaves; saucer-shaped, leaf-like sheaths around stem nodes; and back-curved spines along stem and leaves.
Flowers: small spikes of tiny white flowers emerge from saucer-like sheaths.
Fruit: small clusters of berries, greenish-white, turning dark blue, in fall.
Height: variable, stems to 23' (7 m) long.

Flower June.

Habitat Old fields, yards, other disturbed habitats.

Range Asia native; introduced in the United States and naturalized in the Northeast and in Oregon.

Discussion The name may be a bit of an exaggeration but this vine can grow 6 inches in a day and will cover over anything in its path. The blue berries sometimes sit inside the saucerlike bracts like fruit in a bowl. They are consumed by birds, which help distribute the seed of this rampant invader. Probably introduced to North America with nursery stock from Asia, Mile-a-minute Weed is considered a noxious pest in the East. It has recently expanded its range south to North Carolina and north into southern New England.