Botanical art
Prior names
Kennedya prostrata, orth.var.
Common names
Running Postman
Scarlet Runner
Etymology
Kennedia, named after Lewis Kennedy (1775-1818), a nurseryman at Hammersmith, near London. Prostrata, from Latin meaning flat on the ground or prostrate, referring to the species' habit.
Distribution and status
Found in the southern part of South Australia growing mainly on coastal sand dunes but also inland on rocky outcrops. Also found in Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. Native. Common in South Australia. Common in the other States.
Herbarium regions: Flinders Ranges, Eyre Peninsula, Northern Lofty, Murray, Yorke Peninsula, Southern Lofty, Kangaroo Island, South Eastern, Green Adelaide
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)
Plant description
Prostrate, or rarely twining herb, with stems covered in hairs. Leaves with 3 leaflets, on stalk to 5 cm or more long; sparsely hairy. Flowers red or scarlet with 1 or 2 on a short stalk. Flowering between August and November. Fruits are brown cylindrical pod to 50 mm long and 8 mm wide; covered in hairs. Seeds are black reniform seed to 2.5 mm long and 1.5 mm wide, with a large pale yellow aril. Seed embryo type is bent.
Seed collection and propagation
Collect seeds between November and January. Collect mature pods; those turning brown from purple-red and containing dark hard seeds. Place the pods in a tray and cover with paper to prevent seeds popping out and leave to dry for a week. Then rub the pods with your hands to dislodge the seeds. Use a sieve to separate the 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. From two collections, the seed viability was high, at 95%. 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 | 3,450 (83.49 g) 3,450 (83.49 g) | 80+ | 15-Dec-2005 | DJD331 Southern Lofty | 7-Aug-2006 | 95% | -18°C |
BGA | 230 (5.36 g) | 15-Nov-2005 | MKJ142 Southern Lofty | 9-Aug-2006 | N/C | -18°C | |
BGA | 4,000 (100 g) | 50+ | 2-Dec-2010 | Kanmantoo Murray | 1-Jan-2012 | 95% | -18°C |