MARSDENIA AUSTRALIS

This member of the Asclepiadaceae family was given this name by George Claridge Druce in 1917. It is found in most of Australia, growing in a well drained or sandy soil with some water and lots of sun. The caudex can grow to eight centimetres in diameter, the entire plant to four metres in height. The flowers are greenish-yellow. It is one of the significant bush food for the Aboriginal people of Australia. Both root, leaves, fruits, seeds and nectar from the flowers are used. The family is named after William Marsden, a 19'th century plant collector. The species for its southern occurrence.