Murpe
Melodinus bacellianus

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A vine or twiner. It grows 3-8 m high. It is woody. The bark is corky. Young growth has yellow hairs. The leaves are simple and 8-16 cm long by 5-7 cm wide. They are sword shaped and dark green. Both sides of the leaf have rusty hairs. Broken leaves and twigs secrete milky latex. The flowers are in groups 1-3.5 cm across. These are in the axils of the upper leaves. The flowers are 0.6-1 cm across. They are yellow. The fruit are oval and 66 mm long by 46 mm wide. These hang singly or in bunches. They have many seeds. The seeds are 7-8 mm long. The pulp around the seeds is edible.

There are about 75 Melodinus species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It suits tropical and subtropical locations. It can grow in part shade or full sun. It needs well drained soil. It grows naturally in the rainforest in NE Queensland in Australia. It grows from sea level to 1140 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Melodinus murpe F.M. Bailey; Wrightia bacellana (F. Muell.) S.T.Blake; Wrightia bacellianus F. Muell.;