Oxylobium cordifolium explained

Oxylobium cordifolium, commonly known as the heart-leaved shaggy pea,[1] is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to New South Wales. It is a small, prostrate shrub with long, wiry branches, heart-shaped leaves and orange-red flowers.

Description

Oxylobium cordifolium is a small, spreading shrub to about high with branches up to long and are densely covered with long, soft, straight hairs. The heart-shaped leaves are arranged opposite or whorled, long, wide, margins and apex curved downward, upper surface covered with warty protuberances, underside sparingly hairy. The orange-red flowers are borne at the end of branches in racemes, usually in groups of three, standard petal long, bracts lance-shaped and taper to a point. The soft, oval-shaped seed pod is covered in soft, silky hairs, sessile, long and tapering to a point. Flowering occurs from spring to early summer.[1] [2]

Taxonomy

Oxylobium cordifolium was first formally described in 1807 by Henry Cranke Andrews and the description was published in The Botanist's Repository for New, and Rare Plants.[3] [4] The specific epithet (cordifolium) means "heart leaved".[5]

Distribution and habitat

Heart-leaved shaggy pea grows on damp, sandy soils in heath and coastal headlands south of Sydney, Tumut and Conjola districts.[1] [2]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Wiecek . B. . Oxylobium cordifolium . PlantNET-NSW Flora online . Royal Botanic Garden Sydney . 29 November 2020.
  2. Book: Fairley . Alan . Moore . Philip . Native Plants of the Sydney Region . 2010 . Jacana Books . Sydney . 9781741755718 . 189.
  3. Web site: Oxylobium cordifolium . Australian Plant Name Index . 30 November 2020.
  4. Book: Andrews . Henry C. . The Botanist's Repository for New, and Rare Plants . 1807 . 492 .
  5. Book: Sharr . Francis Aubi . George . Alex . Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings . 2019 . Four Gables Press . Kardinya, WA . 9780958034180 . 170 . 3rd.