Whilst walking in the Wombat Forest, we noticed this climbing plant with delicate bell shaped flowers. Could you identify it?
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M.T., Korweinguboora.
This is a flower of the purple apple-berry, a rare plant in western Victoria. The book Flora of Victoria mentions an isolated occurrence at Mt Macedon, but makes no mention of any Wombat Forest records.
The purple part of its name comes from the striking purple-blue berries that form after the flowers. The apple-berry reference is from the slight apple taste of the fruit of the closely-related, common apple-berry.
The scientific name of your plant is Billardiera macrantha. It is found mostly east of Melbourne, with isolated western occurrences at the Grampians, the Otways, and Mt Macedon.
- Questions and photos are welcome. Send to Roger Thomas at The Courier, PO Box 21, Ballarat, 3353, or email to rthomas@vic.australis.com.au