July 2009. Two invasive climbing plants from Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia. The first one (top photos) can overgrow and kill trees. It attaches to trunks and branches. The young leaves differ from those of the older plants.

This was thought to be the ornamental Syngonium podophyllum (or angustatum). See Aquarium and Pond Plants of the World:

http://keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/aquariumplants2/Aquarium_&_Pond_Plants_of_the_World/key/Aquarium_&_Pond_Plants/Media/Html/Other/terrestrial-plants.html

http://www.hear.org/Pier/species/syngonium_angustatum.htm

http://www.hear.org/Pier/species/syngonium_podophyllum.htm

The second climber was thought to be Epipremnum pinnatum cv. Aureum, or taro vine. It is also known under a former name, Scindapsis aureus. Some work was done on the control of the climber in Niue a few years ago. It was a problem invading forests. Cutting the stems at ground level was not effective, but injections of glyphosate were. It was thought that the plant was introduced to Niue as an ornamental.

Normal cut-stump treatment for vines did not work on Epipremnum on the Big Island in Hawai`i as aerial roots kept the plant alive on trees and palms ??? which will fail under the weight of mature vines. It is difficult to detach enough of the vine from tall trees to kill it.

There is a key on the Syngonium pages of the PIER website to tell the two species apart. Fosberg says S angustatum, Lorence says S cf. podophyllum.

Both these plants are in the Areaceae