Devil's Twine
Cassytha
Other Names: Dodder laurel, devil's guts
Family: Lauraceae
Habitat: Woodland and heath
Uses: The small fruits are edible. Aboriginies sometimes used the stems as twine
References: Baker and Corringham, Low, Robinson
About Devil's Twine
These are twining shrubs that are parasitic on the plants they grow on, forming such a mass that the host eventually collapses. There are 14 species in Australia. C. paniculata is found in Cattai National Park, and C. pubescens is common in the Blue Mountains.
Mitchell Park, Cattai NSW.
See Also
Australian Mammals
Australian Birds
Australian Reptiles
Australian Frogs
Australian Fish
Australian Spiders and Their Faces
Return to Plant Foods