Gastrolobium aculeatum G.Chandler, Crisp & R.J.Bayer

Scientific Description

Erect, shrub, spindly shrub (broom-like). Stems terete, spiny at least in part, glabrous; pustules or glands absent. Leaves or phylloclades clearly present, simple, opposite, continuous with stem, 10-30 mm long, 5-18 mm wide, glabrous, flat with flat margins or flat with recurved margins; margins dentate; tubercles absent; pustules or glands absent. Stipules present and persistent to older leaves. Pedicel present, 3-6.5 mm long, hairy. Bracteoles present but early deciduous. Calyx 5.5-7 mm long, not accrescent, hairy, with simple hairs, ribless; pustules or glands absent. Corolla 12.5-14.5 mm long, multicoloured, mostly yellow or orange, with some yellow or orange spots, streaks or blotches; claws present; standard 11.8-13 mm long, glabrous, not auriculate, wings 9.5-13 mm long, auriculate, keel 11-14 mm long, not beaked, auriculate, glabrous. Stamens ten; anthers 1.2-1.4 mm long, at two different levels (filaments alternately long and short); filaments free (or united at the very base), 13-14 mm long. Ovary stipitate, hairy or glandular; style 13-14.5 mm long, hairy or glandular towards the base, not bearded, terete. Fruit dehiscent (a pod or follicle), stipitate, not constricted between the seeds, round in cross-section, not beaked. Flowers in September, October and November. Occurs in the Eremaean and South-West Botanical Province, in the Great Victorian Desert, Coolgardie and Avon Wheatbelt IBRA regions.