Bossiaea scolopendria

Bossiaea scolopendria, known as the Plank Plant[1] is a species of flowering plant in the pea family (Fabaceae) found in eastern Australia. An erect shrub up to a metre tall.

Bossiaea scolopendria
Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Australia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Rosids
Order:
Fabales
Family:
Fabaceae
Genus:
Bossiaea
Species:
B. scolopendria
Binomial name
Bossiaea scolopendria
Occurrence data from AVH

It occurs from the Gosford, New South Wales region in the north to elevated areas west of Nowra in the south. Mostly found on sandy soils in heath or woodland. Fairly common on sandstone based soils near Sydney

An interesting feature is that leaves only fully form on juvenile growth or regrowth, which is mostly reduced to scales 1 to 2 mm long.[2] Stems are up to 14 mm wide, hence the common name.

Yellow and red flowers, typical of many Australian Fabaceae form between August and November. The fruit pods are oblong, 3 to 5 cm long, 7 to 9 mm wide on a stem 5 mm long. Inside are five to ten seeds.

References
  1. Alan Fairley – Wildflowers of Sydney & adjoining areas ISBN 1-876473-38-X page 59
  2. "Bossiaea scolopendria". PlantNET - NSW Flora Online. Retrieved 15 August 2010.


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