Monkey Rope Vines or Common Silkpod

Description:

A fast growing woody vine that can grow to be approx. 9cm in diameter and and extend for 20m into tree top canopies by twining. Pale yellow, fragrant flowers grow on the vine, November to June. Slender green seed pods that turn brown then split to release the feathery seeds can be seen September to December.

Habitat:

East Coast of Australia - Coast of Queensland extending to News South Wales. It's not overly picky and can grow in many environments and soil types.

Notes:

All but the final image were taken on Yuggera/Turrbal Country at Boondall Wetlands on the Billai dhagun track. The final photo in the series shows the vine flowers and a beautiful common crow (euploea corinna) butterfly doing what common crow's do best. This image was not taken at the Boondall Wetlands, but in the front yard of a house my family rented between 2011-2016. I've included it to show the flowers up-close. When we first moved into the house, the yard was pretty uninspiring, until one day I noticed a random vine had propagated itself in a gap of the gate post. Rather than tear it out to maintain the illusion of a 'tidy' front yard for our landlord, I threw caution to the wind and let it go to see what would happen and find out what it was. The vine happily (and quickly!) made itself at home, creeping along the front fence with a little help from me, guiding it through the fence mesh. Not everyone in my family agreed with my vine shenanigans, but I persisted anyway. And boy am I glad I did! As soon as that vine flowered, my front yard was consistently filled with butterflies, turning that unkempt space from drab to fab and delighting pedestrians that happened to pass our place. I allowed the vine to grow the entire length of the front fence, but once it got to the pedestrian gate and mail box, I had to make a decision. Prune it there and contain it, or get creative and let it keep growing? Of course I took the advice of the townsfolk of Thneedville (The Lorax, 2012) and I 'LET IT GROW!' I ventured to good old Bunnings and purchased a garden arch. I situated the arch over the pedestrian gate and the vine did the rest. The vine is very woody and actually quite heavy when it really gets going, so after a while (and some heavy rain and strong winds), my garden arch was looking a bit worse for wear. By the time the arch had really had it, we had bought our first home. When we moved, I had to take down the arch in order to return the yard to its original 'tidy' (read: boring) state - But I refused to remove the vine from the fence because BUTTERFLIES! It's been a bit over 6 years since we lived at that house and during that time, I have driven past every now and then and guess what was STILL growing along the front fence? You guessed it, the vine! :) The house was recently put up for auction and when I had a look at the posting and images, guess what was front and centre of the images showing the façade? You guessed again, the vine :) Monkey rope vine is hardy and durable! Let it grow song from The Lorax: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqvD4NC-...