A large number of exotic vines and scramblers have become established in New South Wales. Many are now widespread, and locally abundant, especially in the eastern part of the state. The majority of these vines and scramblers were originally introduced for horticultural purposes and have now escaped. A number are currently recognised as significant environmental weeds in particular regions (eg The NSW North Coast Weeds Advisory Committee, undated). The main species include:
Abrus precatorius Crabs-eye Creeper, Acetosa sagittata Potato Vine, Anredera cordifolia Madeira Vine, Araujia sericifera Moth vine, Aristolochia elegans Dutchman's Pipe, Aristrolochia littoralis Dutchman's Pipe, Asparagus aethiopicus Ground Asparagus, Asparagus africanus Asparagus Fern, Asparagus asparagoides Bridal Creeper, Asparagus plumosus Climbing Asparagus, Asparagus scandens Climbing Asparagus, Asystasia gangetica var. micrantha, Caesalpinia decapetala Mysore Thorn, Cardiospermum grandiflorum Balloon Vine, Clematis vitalba Old Man's Beard, Delairea odorata Cape Ivy, Dioscorea bulbifera Aerial Yam, Dipogon lignosus, Hedera helix English Ivy, Ipomoea alba Moon Flower, Ipomoea cairica Coastal Morning Glory, Ipomoea indica Morning Glory, Ipomoea purpurea Morning Glory, Lathyrus tingitanus, Lonicera japonica Japanese Honeysuckle, Macfadyena unguis-cati Cat's Claw Creeper, Passiflora suberosa Corky Passion Flower, Passiflora subpeltata Passion Flower, Passiflora toriminiana, Puearia lobata Kudzu, Senecio angulatus, Senecio macroglossus, Solanum jasminoides Potato Vine, Solanum seaforthianum Climbing Nightshade, Sollya heterophylla, Thunbergia alata Black-eyed Susan, Thunbergia grandiflora Blue Trumpet Vine, Tradescantia fluminensis, Vinca major Periwinkle.
Exotic vines and scramblers have significant adverse effects on biodiversity. They typically smother native vegetation and seedlings as well as prevent recruitment, especially in riparian areas. In addition, some vine species are capable of killing mature trees (eg Cat’s Claw Creeper). Many of these vines and scramblers co-occur in the same locations and thus compound their impact to biodiversity. The speed at which many of these species have spread in New South Wales has contributed to their potential impact to biodiversity.
In New South Wales, exotic vines and scramblers have been identified as a threat to the following native plant species listed on Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 of the Act:
Acacia pubescens,
Acronychia littoralis,
Daphnandra sp 'C' Illawarra,
Davidsonia jerseyana,
Davidsonia johnsonii,
Desmodium acanthocladum,
Diploglottis campbelli,
Endiandra floydii,
Epacris hamiltonii,
Fontainea oraria,
Gossia (Austromytrus) fragrantissima,
Hicksbeachia pinnatifolia,
Irenepharsus trypherus,
Isoglossa eranthemoides,
Pimelea spicata,
Rapanea sp. A Richmond River,
Tinospora tinosporides
Exotic vines and scramblers have been identified as a threat to at least three animal species listed as Endangered on Schedule 1 of the Act:
Kerivoula paupuensis Golden-tipped bat, Potorous tridactylus Long-nosed potoroo, and Turnix melanogaster Black-breasted button quail.
Exotic vines and scramblers have also been identified as a threat to the following Endangered Ecological Communities:
Coastal Saltmarsh in the NSW North Coast; Sydney Basin and South East Corner bioregions; Cumberland Plain Woodland; Elderslie Banksia Scrub Forest; Hunter Lowland Redgum Forest in the Sydney Basin and NSW North Coast Bioregions; Illawarra Lowlands Grassy Woodland in the Sydney Basin Bioregion; Illawarra Subtropical Rainforest in the Sydney Basin Bioregion; Littoral Rainforest in the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner Bioregions; Lowland Rainforest on Floodplain in the NSW North Coast Bioregion; Milton Ulladulla Subtropical Rainforest in the Sydney Basin Bioregion; Moist Shale Woodland in the Sydney Basin Bioregion; Mount Gibraltar Forest in the Sydney Basin Bioregion; Pittwater Spotted Gum Forest; Robertson Basalt Tall Open-forest in the Sydney Basin Bioregion; Shale-sandstone Transition Forest; Subtropical Coastal Floodplain Forest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion; Swamp Oak Floodplain Forest of the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner Bioregions; Swamp Sclerophyll Forest on Coastal Floodplains of the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner bioregions; and Western Sydney Dry Rainforest in the Sydney Basin Bioregion.