Gastrolobium parvifolium Benth.
Berry Poison

Scientific Description

Erect, shrub, spindly shrub (broom-like). Stems terete, not spiny, hairy; pustules or glands absent. Leaves or phylloclades clearly present, simple, whorled, continuous with stem, 7-11 mm long, 2.4-4.6 mm wide, hairy or glabrous, with simple hairs, flat with flat margins; margins entire; tubercles absent; pustules or glands absent. Stipules present and persistent to older leaves, 1.3-2.2 mm long, without glands, ribless. Pedicel present, 2-3 mm long, hairy. Bracteoles present but early deciduous. Calyx 4.5-7.2 mm long, not accrescent, hairy, with simple hairs, ribless; pustules or glands absent. Corolla 7-12 mm long, multicoloured, mostly yellow, pink, red or orange, with some yellow, pink, red or orange spots, streaks or blotches; claws present; standard 9-12 mm long, glabrous, auriculate, wings 6-9.5 mm long, auriculate, keel 5.5-7.5 mm long, not beaked, auriculate, glabrous. Stamens ten; anthers 0.4-0.8 mm long, at two different levels (filaments alternately long and short); filaments free (or united at the very base), 3.5-6 mm long. Ovary stipitate, hairy or glandular; style 4.5-5 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, glabrous, not beaked. Flowers in August, September and October. Occurs in the Eremaean and South-West Botanical Province, in the Coolgardie, Avon Wheatbelt, Jarrah Forest, Mallee, Esperance and Swan Coastal Plain IBRA regions.