Cape Ivy

Delairea odorata

Cape Ivy

DESCRIPTION

Glabrous climbing and twining perennial with slender stems to 3m long. Fleshy leaves broadly ovate to circular in outline but palmately lobed and veined (3-7), 4-8cm long by same wide; petioles 4-7cm long, reniform stipules 5-10mm wide.

FLOWERS AND FRUIT

Mainly axillary corymbose inflorescences with 15-50 bright yellow cylindrical flower heads 2-2.5mm wide on stalks 2-5mm long during winter, 8-10 bracts 3-5mm long with 2-4 smaller bracteoles at base, 10- 12 tubular florets about 5mm longer than involucre. Reddish-brown achenes 2mm long, white pappus 5-6mm long.

HABITAT AND RANGE

A weed of moist gullies, from southern Tasmania to the Queensland-New South Wales border and South Australia. A native of South Africa.