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Electronic Flora of South Australia infraspecific Fact Sheet

Family: Fabaceae
Swainsona microphylla ssp. affinis

Citation: A. Lee, Contr. N.S.W. natn. Herb. 1, 4:256 (1948).

Synonymy: -S. microphylla A. Gray var. affinis J. Black, Fl. S. Aust. 472 (1948), nom. nud.

Common name: Common poison-pea.

Description:
Pubescence on stems and inflorescence almost absent or sparse with short appressed hairs (S.Aust. specimens), or dense with longer loosely appressed hairs; leaves 5-10 cm long; leaflets 9-21, usually 11-15, oblong to narrow-oblong, retuse, 4-13 x 3-10, commonly 6-9 x 4-7 mm, glabrescent above to more or less densely pubescent with white appressed hairs below; white appressed hairs regularly present on the petiole and petiolules.

Flowers 8-10 mm long, blue, on a 7-30 cm long peduncle many- to 30- or more-flowered; flowers evenly spaced almost from the base, opening from the base; style tip with an extended tapered terminal segment, sometimes slightly inflexed, with short hairs along the back.

Published illustration: Cunningham et al. (1982) Plants of western New South Wales, p. 416.

Distribution:    W.Aust.; N.T.; Qld; N.S.W.

Flowering time: June — Aug.

Biology: It has been suspected of poisoning stock, although the evidence is not strong (Chippendale & Murray (1963) N.T. Animal Industry Branch Ext. Art. 2, edn 2.)

Taxonomic notes: This subspecies is the most robust representative of the S. microphylla complex with larger flowers and leaflets distinguishing it from subsp. glabrescens as well as with denser evenly spaced pubescence on the lower lamina of the leaf.

Author: Not yet available


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