Family Index

Scientific Name

Cassytha melantha

Family Name

LAURACEAE

Common Name

Large Dodder-laurel

Status

Height

Flowers

5-7mm in diameter, 3-10 together.

Fruit

Berries or drupes

Form

Twining parasitic plant with tough stems. The plant, including flowers and fruit, becomes black when dried.

Municipalities

Break O'Day; Burnie; Central Coast; Central Highlands; Circular Head; Devonport; Dorset; Flinders Island; Georgetown; Glamorgan-Spring Bay; Glenorchy; Kentish; Latrobe; Launceston; Meander Valley; Northern Midlands; Tasman; West Tamar

Communities

Habitat Notes

Frequent in the north of the State.

Site Tolerance

Frost Tolerance

Soil Tolerance

General Notes

Difficult to grow from seed. Germination has been observed following fire, but mild abrasion of the seed is ineffectual; may require stronger treatment. Requires a host plant to parasitise. Suitable below powerlines.

Propagation Details

Propagation Calendar

Flowering Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Seed Collecting Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Sowing Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Cutting Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Seed Information

Seed Collection

Drupe is 7-10mm in diameter, fleshy, and dark greenish black, and encloses one hard seed.

Seed Treatment Method

Seed Storage Life

Viable Seeds Per Gram

Seed Treatment Notes

Germination Time

Suitable for Direct Seeding

Cuttings

Expected Time to Take Root

Expected Time to Plant Out

Propagation by Division N.B. Transplant only from nearby to avoid disease.

Cutting Notes