Leichhardtia suaveolens
Leichhardtia suaveolens, synonym Marsdenia suaveolens, commonly known as the scented milk vine, is a small vine found in New South Wales, Australia. It is found in a variety of habitats in relatively high rainfall areas, from Bega to Port Macquarie. The original specimen was collected at Sydney on 11 May 1802.
Description
Leichhardtia suaveolens grows as a vine in forest or small upright shrub in heathland, reaching 1 m high. The stem is up to in diameter, and the internodes are up to. The plant exudes a white milky sap when cut or damaged. The leaves arise in pairs off the stem. The dark green, spear-shaped leaves have rounded bases and measure long by wide. The leaf margins roll downwards. The cream-white flowers appear from October to February, being most abundant in December, and are across and long. They are arranged in umbels. The peduncles are long. Fruiting takes place 2–3 months after flowering. The seed pods are narrow with a tapered tip, and are cm long by wide. They open to release the feathery seeds from August to January. The seeds are then blown away by the wind.Taxonomy
The specific epithet suaveolens is from Latin, and it refers to the uniquely sweet scented flowers. In 1810, this species first appeared in scientific literature, in the Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae, authored by the prolific Scottish botanist, Robert Brown. Kurt Sprengel placed it in the genus Pergularia in 1824, and it was moved to the genus Leichhardtia in 2021.Distribution and habitat
The species ranges from Port Macquarie to Bega in eastern New South Wales. It grows in wet sclerophyll forest in association with such species as turpentine, Sydney peppermint and blackbutt, generally on sandy alluvial soils. It is also found in dry sclerophyll forest with red bloodwood, stiff-leaf wattle and paperbark tea-tree, and can be found in rainforest gullies. The yearly rainfall is over 800 mm.Ecology
Leichhardtia suaveolens resprouts after bushfire, and has been recorded setting fruit five months after a burn.Leichhardtia suaveolens is foraged upon by caterpillars of the common crow.