Guinea gold vine (Hibbertia scandens)
Description
Hibbertia scandens (also known as snake vine, climbing guinea flower, golden guinea vine or gold guinea plant) is a species of flowering plant in the family Dilleniaceae, native to Australia but widely cultivated. Growing to 4 m (13 ft) in length, it is a climbing or sprawling evergreen shrub with glossy leaves and solitary, bright yellow flowers.The yellow flowers have been reported as having an unpleasant odour variously described as similar to mothballs or animal urine or sweet but with "a pronounced faecel element".The leaves are elliptic or obovate and average 6 cm in length. The fruits consist of segments of bright orange flesh, each surrounding a black seed. While the flesh looks attractive enough to eat, it is best not to. A minute or so after eating, the flesh produces an unpleasant burning sensation in the mouth and lips.Near the sea, plants tend to be densely hairy with spathulate leaves and flowers with 6 or 7 carpels, while inland, the plants tend to be smoother, with flowers having 3 or 4 carpels.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum:
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Class: Magnoliopsida
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Order: Dilleniales
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Family: Dilleniaceae
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Genus: Hibbertia
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