Leichhardtia flavescens, synonym Marsdenia flavescens, is a vine found in eastern Australia (New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria). Common names include hairy milk vine,[1] yellow milk vine and native potato.
The type specimen and seed was collected in the Illawarra district and described (in 1833) by the explorer Allan Cunningham as Marsdenia flavescens.[2] According to the text by William Jackson Hooker, these plants were grown at Kew Gardens in London. "Mr. ALLAN CUNNINGHAM, who found it in New Holland, on the sea-shore at the Illawana district, in lat. 341/2°, whence living plants were imported to His Majesty's Gardens at Kew." sic.
In a 2021 revision of Marsdenia, Paul Forster reassigned the species to the genus, Leichhardtia to give the currently accepted name.[3]
The specific epithet flavescens is from Latin, and it refers to the pale yellow flowers.[4]