Cullen balsamicum (F.Muell.) J.W.Grimes

Scientific Description

Erect, shrub, spindly shrub (broom-like). Stems terete, not spiny, glabrous; pustules or glands present. Leaves or phylloclades clearly present, simple, alternate, not continuous with stem, 60-140 mm long, 20-40 mm wide, hairy, with simple hairs, flat with flat margins; margins dentate; tubercles absent; pustules or glands present. Stipules present and persistent to older leaves, 7-9.5 mm long, without glands, ribless. Pedicel present, 2-2.5 mm long, hairy. Bracteoles absent. Calyx 4-4.2 mm long, accrescent (enlarged in fruit), hairy, with simple hairs, ribless; pustules or glands present. Corolla 6-6.2 mm long, multicoloured, mostly purple or blue, with some purple or blue spots, streaks or blotches; claws absent; standard 5-5.5 mm long, glabrous, not auriculate, wings 4.5-5 mm long, not auriculate, keel 4.5-5.2 mm long, not beaked, not auriculate, glabrous. Stamens ten, at two different levels (filaments alternately long and short); filaments united in an open sheath with one free stamen, 3.4-4.5 mm long. Ovary stipitate, hairy or glandular; style 4.5-5.2 mm long, hairy or glandular towards the base, bearded (with a tuft of hairs at apex), terete. Fruit indehiscent and splitting into sections (schizocarps), stipitate, not constricted between the seeds, round in cross-section, not beaked. Flowers in May, June, July and August. Occurs in the Northern and Eremaean Botanical Province, in the Victoria Bonaparte, Central Kimberley, Ord-Victorian-Plain and Tanami IBRA regions.