Common name: Skunkvine
Paederia foetida L. APNI* Description: Perennial (deciduous or evergreen), semi-woody, herbaceous vine that twines upward on supports and creeps across the ground, climbing by twining on other species or onto its old stems from the previous season; stems creeping along the ground will root at the nodes.
Leaves opposite, simple, broad-lanceolate to elongated-ovate, tip pointed, 3–14 cm long, 2–5 cm wide, bases rounded, truncate or heart-shaped. Upper surface medium to dark green, irregularly and sparsely scattered with transparent, bristly hairs; hairs multicellular. Lower surface lighter in colour, somewhat reflective in light, veins especially lined with transparent, bristly hairs; hairs multicellular and bent at the tip. Margin entire, fringed with closely appressed strigose hairs. Petioles 2–5 cm long, slender, with fine, short hairs in lines. Stipule pairs broadly wedge-shaped, interpetiolar, stipule margins fringed with tiny cilia.
Inflorescences a cymes with long stalks; terminal and axillary; sepals connate, calyx lobes deltate, corolla funnel-shaped, 4–5 lobes, margins crinkled, 7–11 mm long, white to cream, dark purplish red within, outer surface pubescent.
Fruit a capsule, light brown to yellow or reddish-brown, glossy, nearly globose, 4–6 mm diameter crowned by persistent calyx lobes; containing one or two seeds. Seeds are ellipsoidal, plano-convex or convexo-concave, without conspicuous wings, black, often covered with raphides.
Distribution and occurrence: Very invasive plant, able to infest large areas and smother other plants.
NSW subdivisions: *CC
*
The dominant foul-smelling aroma component is believed to be the sulphur-containing compound dimethyl disulphide.
Text by Louisa Murray
Taxon concept: Invasive Species Compendium: www.cabi.org
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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