Swainson-pea

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Swainsona sericea

Prostrate or low growing perennial to 10 cm high. Stems covered in densely downy hairs. Leaves to 7 cm long made up of 5-13 narrow downy leaflets, the one on the tip being distinctly longer than the others. Softly downy purple flowers in clusters of 2-3 long flowering stalks with 2-8 flowers.

Details
Flora Type
Herbs
Distinctive Features

Species is covered in soft downy hairs which are fixed in the middle (mediflexed), or each end. Two bottom petals are fused to form a keel which is characteristically as long as the sideways wings.
Biology

Perennial. Grows in grassland and eucalypt woodland, sometimes with Callitris species.
Native Status
Native
Flowering Time

Aug-Oct
Taxonomy
Phylum
Tracheophyta (Vascular Plants)
Class
Magnoliopsida (Flowering Plants)
Order
Fabales
Family
Fabaceae
Genus
Swainsona
Species
sericea

Source: Atlas of Living Australia

A vulnerable species in Vic.

Interesting Facts
Similar Species

Sometimes confused with S. reticulata and S. oroboides, but S. sericea can be distinguished by the presence of hairs that are fixed in the middle (medifixed).
Native Status
Native