Cassytha melantha

Common name: 

Coarse Dodder-laurel
Large Dodder laurel

Family: 

Lauraceae

Distribution (from Flora of Victoria):

Murray Mallee, Lowan Mallee, Wimmera, Grampians, Riverina, Midlands, Otway Plain, Eastern Highlands, Gippsland Plain, Wilsons Promontory, Snowfields, East Gippsland (ABCDGHJKLMNPRSTUVWXYZ) also WA, SA, NSW, ACT, Tas

Map - Australia's Virtual Herbarium

Distribution and ecological preference at Wilsons Promontory (if known):

Drier woodlands1

Flower description:

Covered in black hairs1

Habit:

Herbaceous, leafless, hemiparasitic climber1

Distinguishing characteristics (within family/genus):

The flowers buds of this species are covered in black hairs. The flowers are in spikes and the fruit is smooth and streaked black1

Images:
Image of Cassytha melantha
Image of Cassytha melantha Image: Mary Ellis
Links to more images:

Atlas of Living Australia

Links to description of this species:

RBG

Conservation status:

Not threatened

References:

1 Walsh, N. G. and Entwisle, T. J. “Flora of Victoria”, volumes 2 (1994), 3 (1996) and 4 (1999). Inkata Press, Port Melbourne, Victoria