Prior names
Bossiaea ensata
Bossiaea riparia
Common names
Eyre Peninsula Bossiaea
Sword Bossiaea
Etymology
Bossiaea named after Joseph Hugues Boissieu (de) La Martiniere (1758-1788), a French physician, biologist and botanist. Peninsularis means of or from a peninsula; referring to Eyre Peninsula where the species is found.
Distribution and status
Endemic to South Australia and found on roadside in a very small area on the Eyre Peninsula growing on sandy soils surrounding salt marshes and lakes in mallee woodland. Native. Very rare in South Australia.
Herbarium region: Eyre Peninsula
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)
Plant description
Erect rhizomatous leafless shrubs to 1 m high, stems flattened with wing-like organ to 14 mm wide. Inflorescence orange and red pea-flowers. Flowering usually between August and October in good seasons. Fruits are reddish brown flattened oblong pod. Seeds are mottled brown, reniform seed to 3 mm long and 2 mm wide, with a curved pale-yellow aril on one side. Seed embryo type is bent.
Seed collection and propagation
Collect seeds between November and December. Collect mature pods, those drying off, turning brown and contain dark hard seeds inside. Pods with viable seeds are produced sporadically and depend on good rainfall. Not all plants will set seeds. Place the pods in a tray and leave to dry for 1 to 2 weeks. Then rub the pods gently with a rubber bung to dislodge the seeds. Use a sieve to separate the seeds from unwanted material. Store the seeds with a desiccant such as dried silica beads or dry rice, in an air tight container in a cool and dry place. Seed viability is usually high. This species has physical dormancy that needs to be overcome for the seed to germinate (e.g. nicking or softening the seed coat).
| Location | No. of seeds (weight grams) | Number of plants | Date collected | Collection number Collection location | Date stored | % Viability | Storage temperature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGA MSB | 1,000 (3.53 g) 1,000 (3.51 g) | 30+ | 13-Nov-2012 | MJT403 Eyre Peninsula | 27-Feb-2014 | 90% | -18°C |
| BGA | 880 (2.817 g) | 13-Nov-2012 | MJT402 Eyre Peninsula | 1-Jan-2016 | 95% | -18°C |
Number of plants: This is the number of plants from which the seeds were collected.
Collection location: The Herbarium of South Australia's region name.
% Viability: Percentage of filled healthy seeds determined by a cut test or x-ray.