Cassytha glabella
Cassytha glabella R.Br.
Cassytha glabella, or slender devil's twine, is a hemi-parasitic climber in the Lauraceae family. It is found in moist regions of Australia, including New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia. The plant is characterized by its hairless stems, as indicated by the specific epithet 'glabella', which comes from Latin. Its fruit has a sweet and mucilaginous taste. It is similar to Devil's Twine and Cassytha melantha, but can be distinguished by its thinner and less hairy stems.
Description
Cassytha glabella is a member of the Lauraceae family and is commonly referred to as the slender devil's twine. It is a hemi-parasitic climber that thrives in the moist areas of several Australian states. The plant's stems are hairless, which is reflected in its specific name 'glabella', derived from Latin. The fruit of this species is noted for its sweet and mucilaginous flavor. While it resembles other species like Devil's Twine and Cassytha melantha, it can be differentiated by its thinner and less hairy stems. It was first described in 1810 by Robert Brown.
Distribution
New South Wales · Queensland · South Australia · Tasmania · Victoria · Western Australia
