Family: Lauraceae
Plant: A scrambling, leafless, parasitic plant with densely intertwined thread-like stems 1-2mm diameter and up to 7m long. The stems are warty when mature and finely hairy when young.
Note: This plant starts life getting its nourishment from the ground and only becomes parasitic after it contacts another plant.
Flowers: Small, white to yellowish, globular or cup-shaped flowers in short spikes along stems.
Flowering: October-December.
Fruit: Green globular to ovoid berry 8-10mm long and usually hairy that turns grey-black with age. The berries can be smooth but also they can have 6 longitudinal veins. The berries are edible and sweet tasting.
Leaves: The leaves are present only as tiny scales
Habitat: Heathland and dry sclerophyll forest.
Features: Densely intertwined stems covering host plant. All parts of the plant covered in fine downy hairs (pubescent).
Name:
Cassytha From Greek kasytas = a parasitic plant.
pubescens From Latin pubescens = to reach puberty (i.e. to grow hair) (referring the fine hairs that cover the plant).
|
Type |
Climber/Scrambler |
|
|
Flowers |
Form |
Globular, Tubular/Bell- |
|
|
|
shaped, Cluster |
|
|
Colour(s) |
White, Yellow |
|
|
Petal/Sepal No. |
5 |
|
|
Flowering Month |
10, 11, 12 |
|
Fruit |
Type |
Berry |
|
|
Colour |
Green, Black |
|
|
Other Features |
- |
|
Leaves |
Arrangement |
Absent/Reduced |
|
|
Type |
- |
|
|
Shape |
- |
|
|
Length |
Tiny |
|
|
Margins |
- |
|
|
Attachment |
- |
|
|
Other Features |
- |
|
Bark |
- |
|
|
Habitat |
Dry sclerophyll forest, Heathland |
|