Commicarpus australis Perennial Tar Vine
The fruits of this plant give the genus name: Commicarpus which refers to the sticky (glandular hairs) covering the club shaped fruits inside which are smaller rice-grain seeds. It is a climbing/scrambling shrub which can get to 3m in height or be quite prostrate. Found mostly from around Geraldton and from there to the north up to Shark bay and beyond but not as far as Broome, it is also mainly found near the coast or in the coastal plain with only one or two outposts inland.
Commicarpus australis is a member of the Nyctaginaceae about which I thought I knew nothing but the famous Mediterranean shrub with purple bracts, Bougainvillea is also a member of this family. The genus name is still a matter of dispute. Plantlist gives Commicarpus australis as a synonym of Boerhavia australis but Florabase, the western Australian Herbarium's database who are usually very much on the ball with name changes still keeps Commicarpus australis and says it was once given the name Boerhavia repanda. It's always been Perennial Tar Vine though because the taxonomists don't mess with common names.
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| Commicarpus australis Perennial Tar Vine |
Roadside verge near Monkey Mia, Western Australia 4th September 2012
Added on December 7th 2018