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Monkey Rope
Parsonsia straminea
-27.5472, 153.058
Field Notes
Description:
Parsonsia straminea, commonly known as "monkey rope" and "common silkpod", is a woody vine of the dogbane family Apocynaceae, and is an Australian native. A known bush tucker plant, the roots and seed pods are edible, and it is also a valuable food source for all sorts of fauna. The flowers attract a wide variety of bird species, and possums eat the flowers and young leaves, and nest in the older vines. The stems grow to considerable diameter (over 10cm) and the vine can climb up to 40 metres into the canopy. They live to a great age and are capable of pulling down trees. PS: See notes section for my previous spotting - there's additional information there. Also, the host grey gum eucalypt is a favourite food tree species for the koalas in Toohey Forest, and I can actually see many deep scratch marks in the bark of the tree.
Habitat:
Occurs along Australia's east coast, from northeastern Queensland south to southern NSW. It prefers to grow in well or partially shaded spots in rainforest and rainforest margins, as well as floodplains, on fertile basalt and sandstone-based soils. This spotting was in Toohey Forest, a remnant eucalyptus woodland reserve of approximately 655 hectares. It is situated within an urban area on the south side of Brisbane, within the city limits.
Notes:
I've spotted this species before, but along the drier ridges of the forest. Also in January, but last year's specimen was in flower - https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/1187788933 However, in the riparian zones along the creek system, monkey rope is lush and prolific. Having only ever seen the smaller plant, it came as real shock to see a mature specimen having fully-scaled a grey gum eucalypt. Guide to the plants of Toohey Forest - https://tooheyforesteec.eq.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/Plants-of-Toohey-F…
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