Bossiaea arenitensis , commonly known as sandstone winged pea,[2] is a species of flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae and is endemic to the Kimberley region of Western Australia. It is an erect, spindly shrub with winged stems, winged cladodes, scale-like leaves and yellow, red and burgundy-coloured flowers.
| Sandstone winged pea | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Genus: | Bossiaea |
| Species: | B. arenitensis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Bossiaea arenitensis | |
Description
editBossiaea arenitensis is an erect, spindly shrub that typically grows to 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) high and 1–2 m (3 ft 3 in – 6 ft 7 in) wide. The stems are winged with a powdery white coating, and winged cladodes 6–18 mm (0.24–0.71 in) wide. The leaves are reduced to dark brown, narrow egg-shaped scales, 2.2–2.7 mm (0.087–0.106 in) long. The flowers are arranged singly or in pairs on a pedicel 3.4–8.9 mm (0.13–0.35 in) long with overlapping, narrow egg-shaped, brownish bracts. The sepals are 6.3–9.5 mm (0.25–0.37 in) long and joined at the base forming a tube, the two upper lobes 2.9–4.3 mm (0.11–0.17 in) long and the lower three lobes 1.7–1.9 mm (0.067–0.075 in) long. The standard petal is golden yellow with red and yellow markings and 10.3–13.7 mm (0.41–0.54 in) long, the wings yellow or orange and the keel yellow to burgundy-coloured. Flowering has been observed in January, April and June and the fruit is an oblong pod 36–49 mm (1.4–1.9 in) long.[2][3]
Taxonomy and naming
editBossiaea arenitensis was first formally described in 2015 by Russell Lindsay Barrett in the journal Nuytsia from specimens collected on Mount Elizabeth Station in 2007.[3][4] The specific epithet (arenitensis) is the latinised version of arenite, a form of sandstone on which this species grows.[3][5]
Distribution and habitat
editSandstone winged pea grows in woodland on sandstone ridges and outcrops and is relatively widespread in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.[3]
Conservation status
editThis bossiaea is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife.[2]
References
edit- ^ "Bossiaea arenitensis". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
- ^ a b c "Bossiaea arenitensis". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ a b c d Barrett, Russell L.; Barrett, Matthew D. (2015). "Twenty-seven new species of vascular plants from Western Australia" (PDF). Nuytsia. 26: 58–60. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
- ^ "Bossiaea arenitensis". APNI. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
- ^ Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 136. ISBN 9780958034180.