| Smooth Darling pea | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Genus: | Swainsona |
| Species: | S. galegifolia
|
| Binomial name | |
| Swainsona galegifolia | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
|
List
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Swainsona galegifolia commonly known as smooth Darling pea,[2] is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to Australia. It is a small shrub with greyish-green leaves and flowers in white, red, pink, purple, yellow or orange.
Description[edit]
Swainsona galegifolia is an upright, perennial subshrub to about 1 m (3 ft 3 in) high with smooth stems. The grey-green leaves are arranged opposite in pairs of 11-29 leaflets on a petiole, each leaflet is narrowly egg-shaped, 6–20 mm (0.24–0.79 in) long, 2–5 mm (0.079–0.197 in) wide, smooth, apex rounded, notched or occasionally with a small point.The pea-like flowers are borne in racemes of 15-20 white, pink, purple, yellow or orange flowers 12–15 mm (0.47–0.59 in) long. The calyx is smooth, shorter than the floral tube. The standard petal is almost orb-shaped, clawed, up to 15 mm (0.59 in) long, 15–20 mm (0.59–0.79 in) wide, keel 10–15 mm (0.39–0.59 in) long, apex rounded and slightly lipped. Flowering occurs in November and December, the fruit is an elliptic-shaped swollen pod, usually 2–40 mm (0.079–1.575 in) long, 8–12 mm (0.31–0.47 in) wide, smooth and the stipe often more than 10 mm (0.39 in) long.[2][3][4]
Taxonomy and naming[edit]
The species was first formally described in 1803 by Henry Cranke Andrews as Vicia galegifolia.[5] In 1812 Robert Brown changed the name to Swainsona galegifolia and the change was published in Hortus Kewensis.[6][7] The specific epithet (galegifolia) refers to the similarity to the northern hemisphere plant galega.[3]
Distribution and habitat[edit]
Smooth Darling pea is a widespread species growing in several different habitats in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.[2]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Swainsona galegifolia". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
- ^ a b c Thompson, J; James, T.A. "Swainsona galegifolia". PlantNET-NSW flora online. Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
- ^ a b "Swainsona galegifolia". Growing Native Plants. Australian National Botanic Garden. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
- ^ "Swainsona galegifolia". VICFLORA-Flora of Victoria. Royal Botanic Garden Victoria. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
- ^ "Vicia galegifolia". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
- ^ "Swainsona galegifolia". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
- ^ Brown, Robert (1812). Hortus Kewensis (2 ed.). London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme & Brown. p. 327. Retrieved 18 March 2022.