Comesperma volubile | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Fabales |
Family: | Polygalaceae |
Genus: | Comesperma |
Species: | C. volubile
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Binomial name | |
Comesperma volubile | |
Occurrence data from AVH |
Comesperma volubile, commonly known as love creeper,[2] is a slender climber in the family Polygalaceae. It is a twining plant with linear leaves and pea-like blue flowers.[3]
Comesperma voluble is a twining creeper to about 3 m (9.8 ft) high on rare occasion a small shrublet with smooth, angled stems. There are few leaves, linear to oval-shaped, 10–45 mm (0.39–1.77 in) long, 1.5–9 mm (0.059–0.354 in) wide, lower surface pale, margins curved or rolled under. The flowers are in lateral racemes 3–25 cm (1.2–9.8 in) long, the sepals are separated, outer three broadly oval-shaped, about 2 mm (0.079 in) long, wings oval-shaped to nearly orb-shaped, 4–7 mm (0.16–0.28 in) long, keel darker, 3.5–5 mm (0.14–0.20 in) long, upper petals egg-shaped to oblong. Flowering occurs mainly August to November and the fruit is a narrow wedge-shaped capsule, 12–20 mm (0.47–0.79 in) long.[3]
Comersperma voluble was first formally described in 1806 by Jacques Labillardière, and the description was published in Novæ Hollandiæ plantarum specimen.[4][5] The specific epithet (volubile) means "twining".[6]
Love creeper occurs in heathland and forest in the states of Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, in Australia.[7]