Mikania
(named after Joseph Mikan, 1743-1814, one Professor of Botany at Prague). SYN. Willugbaeya. ORD. Compositae. A large genus (about sixty species have been described) of stove, evergreen climbers, natives, for the most part, of tropical America, allied to Eupatorium, but distinguished in the flower-heads containing generally only four florets, and the involucre having as many nearly equal bracts. For culture, see stove species of Eupatorium.
M. apiifolia (Apium-leaved). fl. heads yellowish, small, in lax corymbs. Summer. l. dark green, quinate, membranaceous, glabrous, evergreen; segments entire or pinnatifid. Brazil. A pretty climber. (I. H. 1885, 549.) M. Guaco (Guaco). fl.-heads pale blue. l. stalked, ovate, subacuminate, remotely toothed. South America, 1823. Climbing perennial.
M. scandens (climbing).* fl.-heads yellowish-white, cylindrical, corymbose. Summer. l. opposite, cordate, glabrous, shining. Brazil, 1823. This slender climbing perennial is very suitable for growing over trellises, and similar places, in the open air, during the summer months.