Pueraria montana

Other names: Kudzu plant, subtropical

Pueraria montana, often referred to as the kudzu plant or the understory plant, is a plant native to East Asia. It is a perennial, fast-growing, climbing shrub that covers trees, shrubs and even buildings and power poles when not obstructed. This plant can grow up to 20 meters per year and is known for its devastating ability to destroy other plants with its dominance. Its leaves are composed of a trio of petals and the flowers are purple in colour. Because of its invasive nature, it is considered a noxious weed in some places.

In addition to its destructive power, Pueraria montana has useful properties. Its roots contain high amounts of starch and can be used to make flour, which is used in culinary applications, especially in Asian cuisine. The leaves and stems of this plant can also be eaten as a vegetable. It is also used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat certain diseases. Furthermore, this plant is also used for the production of biodiesel. Kudzu is also often used in cosmetics for its antioxidants, especially in some face creams. Apart from this, it is also used as a natural biological agent to protect the soil from erosion. Thus, despite its unpopularity in many parts of the world, this plant finds many applications in various areas of industry.