Bossiaea halophila J.H.Ross

Scientific Description

Erect, shrub, spindly shrub (broom-like). Stems flattened, not spiny, glabrous; pustules or glands absent. Leaves or phylloclades absent or apparently so (reduced to scales), simple, alternate, flat with flat margins; margins entire; tubercles absent, 1-2; pustules or glands absent. Stipules present and persistent to older leaves. Pedicel present, 4-7 mm long, glabrous. Bracteoles 1-6 mm long, glabrous, not striate. Calyx 5.6-6.5 mm long, not accrescent, glabrous, ribless; pustules or glands absent. Corolla 12-13 mm long, multicoloured, mostly yellow, with some red spots, streaks or blotches; claws present; standard 10-12 mm long, glabrous, not auriculate, wings 10-11 mm long, not auriculate, keel 10-11 mm long, not beaked, not auriculate, glabrous. Stamens ten; anthers 0.8 mm long, at two different levels (filaments alternately long and short); filaments united in an open sheath, 7-13 mm long. Ovary stipitate, hairy or glandular; style 9.5-11 mm long, hairy or glandular towards the base, not bearded, terete. Fruit dehiscent (a pod or follicle), 15-25 mm long, 4.5-6 mm wide, stipitate, not constricted between the seeds, flat or compressed, glabrous, not beaked. Flowers in October. Occurs in the South-West Botanical Province, in the Avon Wheatbelt and Mallee IBRA regions.