Lessertia frutescens (L.) Goldblatt & J.C.Manning

Scientific Description

Erect, shrub, spindly shrub (broom-like). Stems flattened, not spiny, hairy; pustules or glands absent. Leaves or phylloclades clearly present, compound, alternate, 45-70 mm long, hairy, with simple hairs, flat with recurved margins; margins entire; tubercles absent, leaflets 13-17, pinnately arranged, terminal leaflet present, stalked; pustules or glands absent. Stipules present and persistent to older leaves, 4.5-6.5 mm long, without glands, ribless. Pedicel present, 2-5 mm long, hairy. Bracteoles absent. Calyx 7-8.5 mm long, not accrescent, hairy, with simple hairs, ribless; pustules or glands absent. Corolla 17.5-32 mm long, multicoloured, mostly red or orange, with some red or orange spots, streaks or blotches; standard 15-19 mm long, glabrous, not auriculate, keel 19-25 mm long, not beaked, not auriculate, glabrous. Stamens; anthers 1-1.2 mm long, at two different levels (filaments alternately long and short), 13-21 mm long. Ovary sessile or subsessile, hairy or glandular; style 17.5-24 mm long, hairy or glandular towards the base, bearded (with a tuft of hairs at apex), terete. Fruit 45-75 mm long, 14-35 mm wide, sessile or subsessile, glabrous. Flowers in January. Occurs in the South-West Botanical Province, in the Geraldton Sandplains, Avon Wheatbelt and Esperance IBRA regions.