A vigorous, large-leaved climbing vine that forms dense tangles along forest edges and in regenerating bush. A plant that takes over disturbed ground. It climbs using twining stems that can reach 10 metres or more in length. The stems are woody at the base and become thinner and more flexible towards the tips. The leaves are heart-shaped or oval, up to 10 centimetres long, and bright green. The small, inconspicuous flowers are followed by white, fleshy fruits with black seeds. A plant that hides its flowers and shows its fruit. The fruit was eaten by Māori. The white, fleshy pulp is sweet and juicy, with a mild flavour. The leaves were used in traditional medicines. The tangled stems provide excellent habitat for birds, offering shelter from predators and nesting sites. The dense growth also provides food and shelter for insects and lizards. A plant that feeds the forest. Pohuehue is an important plant for regenerating forest. It grows quickly in disturbed areas, covering the ground and climbing over shrubs. Its dense growth suppresses weeds and provides shade for slower-growing native trees. It is a pioneer species, one of the first plants to colonise cleared land. Over time, as the forest matures, pohuehue becomes less dominant, but it persists in the canopy, climbing the trunks of larger trees. A plant that makes way for the giants. The common name is also used for several other Muehlenbeckia species, including the smaller-leaved Muehlenbeckia complexa, which is common in coastal areas. Both species are valuable for erosion control, their dense root systems holding soil on steep banks and cliffs. The clearing is bare. The pohuehue climbs, covering the ground, climbing the shrubs, reaching for the light. The birds nest in its tangles. The lizards hide in its stems. The pohuehue does not ask for thanks. It just grows. That is what pioneers do.