*Araujia sericifera

Family Apocynaceae

Mothvine

Twiner with milky sap, with stems up to 5 m. Longevity 5 - 25 years.

Flowers: White, December – March.

Fruit: Pear-shaped fruits 5-8 cm long, splitting to release numerous plumed seeds, mature April-May.

Seed: Plumed seed dispersed by wind.

Gallery images: seed, seedling, rootstock, resprout

Ecology

• Native of Peru.
• Naturalised climber on fences and shrubs in woodland and wasteland.
• Occasional in woodland at the Australian Botanic Garden, particularly in unburnt sites, minor weed.
• Probably killed by fire.
• Reported to be foodplant of butterfly caterpillar Danaus plexippus.

Asterisk * indicates exotic species naturalised at the Australian Botanic Garden.