Common Milk Vine

This robust vine has dark green, opposite leaves with a yellowish-white midvein and long stalk; these are 4‒13 cm by 2‒7 cm. There are a few brown glands on the midvein at the base of the leaf. The common name refers to the milky sap that exudes when the plant is broken.

The small, yellowish fragrant flowers have five petal lobes and occur in clusters in the forks of the leaves from spring to summer. The dry fruit is about 5 cm long, broad at the base and tapering to a point. The seeds have a tuft of silky hairs for wind dispersal.

DISTRIBUTION:
East Gippsland, VIC to northeast QLD; also on Lord Howe Island