Hibbertia scandens 
 
Family:                            Dilleniaceae
 
Distribution:                     South-East New South Wales to North-East Queensland.
Common name:                 Guinea came from Ouro; Guinea Flower Climbing; snake vine
Name derivation:        Hibbertia ... after George Hibbert, patron of botany. 
                                         scandens .... "creeper", reference to the climbing habit of the species.
Conservation state:  It is not considered endangered in the wild.
 
General description:
It is a genus with about 150 species, most of which occur naturally in Australia. They are usually small to medium sized shrubs with yellow flowers.
Hibbertia scandens is a very vigorous vine, which can grow from 2 to 5 meters in length. It has elliptical to obovate leaves, 3 to 9 cm long and 1 to 3 cm wide. The large golden yellow flowers, 5 to 7 cm in diameter, occur year-round but are most commonly seen in spring and late summer. Individual flowers usually only last a day or two, but new flowers are produced over a longer period.
 
This plant is very hardy and will tolerate a wide range of climates, including exposure to salt laden winds (this reflects where it is found in the wild; all places from sheltered mountain ravines to exposed sand dunes). It blooms best in full sun, but will also grow successfully in semi-shaded areas. It prefers soil with reasonable drainage (like most other Indian flowers) and tolerates at least moderate frost. The species makes an excellent trellis plant, on walls or fences, or growing as a vine among more established plants. However, it can easily suffocate smaller plants.