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

Scientific Description

Erect, shrub, spindly shrub (broom-like) or herb. Stems terete, not spiny, hairy; pustules or glands present. Leaves or phylloclades clearly present, compound, alternate, not continuous with stem, 50-100 mm long, hairy, with simple hairs, flat with flat margins; margins entire; tubercles absent, pinnately arranged, terminal leaflet present, stalked; pustules or glands present. Stipules present and persistent to older leaves, 5-6 mm long, with glands, ribless. Pedicel present, 3-3.4 mm long, hairy. Bracteoles absent. Calyx 8-8.5 mm long, accrescent (enlarged in fruit), hairy, with simple hairs, ribless; pustules or glands present. Corolla 9-10 mm long, multicoloured, mostly purple or blue, with some purple or blue spots, streaks or blotches; claws absent; standard 8.5-10 mm long, glabrous, not auriculate, wings 8-9 mm long, not auriculate, keel 8-9.5 mm long, not beaked, not auriculate, glabrous. Stamens ten; anthers 0.4-0.5 mm long, at two different levels (filaments alternately long and short); filaments united in an open sheath with one free stamen, 6.5-7 mm long. Ovary stipitate, hairy or glandular; style 6-8 mm long, hairy or glandular towards the base, not bearded, 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, August, September and October. Occurs in the Northern and Eremaean Botanical Province, in the Great Sandy Desert, Little Sandy Desert, Victoria Bonaparte, Central Kimberley, Ord-Victorian-Plain and Dampierland IBRA regions.