Staff Vine

This hardy, vigorous woody vine is common in the rainforest and may be identified by its alternate, dark green leaves, up to 12 cm long. The leaves have very small teeth along the edges and a small, often curved tip; the midvein is raised on the upper surface. Leaves are shiny, but not as glossy as those of Gum Vine. The stems of the branchlets are grey-brown or red-brown, with many pale, raised spots.

The small but numerous greenish, fragrant flowers have spreading petals, occurring on slender flower spikes about 10 cm long. The fruit are orange-brown capsules about 7 mm long, ripening to split into three lobes. These turn back to reveal three bright orange segments, each with one or two seeds.

DISTRIBUTION:
East Gippsland, VIC to Bunya Mountains, QLD