Botanical art
Prior names
Swainsona concinna
Etymology
Swainsona named after Isaac Swainson (1746-1812), an English scientist and horticulturalist who had a private botanic garden near London. Oligophylla from the Greek 'oligos' meaning few and 'phyllon' meaning leaves; referring to the few leaflets along the leave.
Distribution and status
Found in the north-eastern part of South Australia, growing on red sand in clay pans and plains. Also found in the Northern Territory, Queensland and New South Wales. Native. Common in South Australia. Common in the other states.
Herbarium regions: North Western, Lake Eyre, Gairdner-Torrens, Flinders Ranges, Eastern
NRM regions: Alinytjara Wilurara, Northern and Yorke, South Australian Arid Lands
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)
Plant description
A prostrate or occasionally ascending perennial herb with numerous hairy stems arising from a taproot. Leaves to 4 cm long with 5-7 leaflets with purple pea-flowers. Flowering between August and October. Fruits are long dark brown pod 12 mm long and 4 mm wide covered with minute hairs. Seeds are orange to brown, semi-flat reniform seed to 3 mm long with a wrinkled surface. Seed embryo type is bent.
Seed collection and propagation
Collect seeds between September and December. Collect mature pods, dark brown containing hard seeds. Mature pods can be found lying on the ground next to the plant containing hard seeds. When dried the pods become hard and difficult to open. Use a rubber bung to rub the pods or break the pods open with your fingers 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 one collection, the seed viability was high, at 100%. 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 | 17,600 (42.62 g) 17,600 (42.62 g) | 100+ | 28-Sep-2007 | DJD876 Lake Eyre | 19-Sep-2008 | 100% | -18°C |