Gastrolobium rigidum (C.A.Gardner) Crisp

Scientific Description

Erect or prostrate,spreading or scrambling, shrub, spindly shrub (broom-like). Stems angular, spiny at least in part, glabrous; pustules or glands absent. Leaves or phylloclades clearly present, simple, opposite, continuous with stem, 20-45 mm long, 10-15 mm wide, glabrous, flat with flat margins; margins entire; tubercles absent; pustules or glands absent. Stipules present and persistent to older leaves, 4 mm long, without glands, ribless. Pedicel present, 4.5-4.8 mm long, hairy. Bracteoles present but early deciduous. Calyx 7.5-9 mm long, not accrescent, hairy or glabrous, with simple hairs, ribless; pustules or glands absent. Corolla 12-15 mm long, multicoloured, mostly red, orange or purple, with some red, orange or purple spots, streaks or blotches; claws present; standard 12-14.5 mm long, glabrous, auriculate, wings 10-14.5 mm long, auriculate, keel 11-13.5 mm long, not beaked, auriculate, glabrous. Stamens ten; anthers 1-1.8 mm long, at two different levels (filaments alternately long and short); filaments free (or united at the very base), 10.5-12 mm long. Ovary stipitate, hairy or glandular; style 13.5-15 mm long, hairy or glandular towards the base, not bearded, terete. Fruit dehiscent (a pod or follicle), 7-10 mm long, 5.5-8 mm wide, stipitate, not constricted between the seeds, round in cross-section, hairy, with simple hairs, not beaked. Flowers in September and October. Occurs in the South-West Botanical Province, in the Mallee and Esperance IBRA regions.