Vine found in cairns.

[kenny]

Hello,

My mum just went on a bit of a holiday up to Cairns and came across an interesting vine.

For some silly reason she managed to grab seed pods but not take a photo of the vine itself. So that will probably make it very difficult to ID.

The description she gave me though is as follows.

Large leathery heart shaped leaves.

Growing directly out of the sand on the beach.

I have some seeds soaking as you can see and I will endeavor to germinate them. Although its unlikely, what ever it is, that it will grow under Melbourne conditions. If you have any idea what it could be, or could even point me toward some vines that grow on the beach in Cairns. We may be able to put a name to it.

Cheers.

[freakazoid]

sounds/looks a lot like canavalia maritima/rosea

just a guess, mind you

[cristop]

I agree. Canavalia rosea is a good guess, as it is a scambling pea that grows on northern beaches.

[kenny]

Yep,

She said that's the one. Thanks.

Apparently It has some medicinal properties too. What were the odds

[t st tantra]

said to be smoked as erb substitute......seemed interesting but mild.......keeps dying in adelaide winter,which is a bummer cos i keep finding plants for sale late autumn!

t s t .

[freakazoid]

apparently a very frost tender plant

natural distribution is from Syd. north to tropics on east coast, dont know about west/south (haven't seen it anywhere on a Syd. beach though)

interesting to note in "Aust. Native Plants" by Wriggly & Fagg its listed as poisonous but after preparation was/is used as aboriginal bush tucker

no more info than that here but you know how it goes "one mans poison is another mans medicine"

just be careful out there guys

research is key