Rubiaceae

Paederia foetida

Common Names: Skunk vine

Plant Form: Perennial vine. Size: Growing more than 7 m high. Stem: Light green, slender, twining, smooth or with short hairs. Emits strong odour. Leaves: Lance to oval-shaped with pointed tip, up to 14 cm long, medium to dark green above, paler underneath and lined with hairs. Flowers: White to cream with dark purplish centre, in clusters up to 30 cm long, with densely hairy petals. Fruit and Seeds: Spherical, green ripening to light, yellowish, or reddish-brown. Habitat: Forests, riverbanks, hillsides, waste areas, roadsides. Distinguishing Features: Strong unpleasant odour. Has rounder fruit and wingless seeds compared to closely related Sewer vine (Paederia cruddasiana). Impacts: Outcompetes, smothers and shades out native vegetation, can cause tree collapse, whole plant has very unpleasant smell.