Clitoria australis Benth.

Scientific Description

Erect, shrub, spindly shrub (broom-like). Stems terete, not spiny, hairy; pustules or glands absent. Leaves or phylloclades clearly present, compound, alternate, not continuous with stem, 80-125 mm long, hairy, with simple hairs, flat with flat margins; margins entire; tubercles absent, leaflets 7-15, pinnately arranged, terminal leaflet present, stalked; pustules or glands absent. Stipules present and persistent to older leaves, 7.2-8.5 mm long, without glands, ribless. Pedicel present, 2-3 mm long, hairy. Bracteoles present and persistent, 8-9 mm long, hairy, not striate. Calyx 17-18 mm long, not accrescent, hairy, with simple hairs, ribless; pustules or glands absent. Corolla 25-35 mm long, uniformly coloured, white; claws absent; standard 25-32 mm long, glabrous, not auriculate, wings 14-20 mm long, not auriculate, keel 20 mm long, not beaked, not auriculate, glabrous. Stamens ten; anthers 1-1.2 mm long, at two different levels (filaments alternately long and short), 15-17 mm long. Ovary stipitate, hairy or glandular; style 20 mm long, hairy or glandular towards the base, not bearded, terete. Fruit dehiscent (a pod or follicle), 40-45 mm long, 8-10 mm wide, stipitate, not constricted between the seeds, flat or compressed, glabrous, beaked. Flowers in January, February, March and December. Occurs in the Northern Botanical Province, in the Northern Kimberley IBRA regions.