Indigofera australis subsp. hesperia Peter G.Wilson & Rowe

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, 22-64 mm long, glabrous, flat with flat margins; margins entire; tubercles absent, leaflets 13-21, pinnately arranged, terminal leaflet present, stalked; pustules or glands absent. Stipules present and persistent to older leaves, 4.2-4.5 mm long, without glands, ribless. Pedicel present, 2.5-4 mm long, glabrous. Bracteoles present but early deciduous. Calyx 2.2-3.5 mm long, not accrescent, glabrous, ribless; pustules or glands absent. Corolla 8-9.5 mm long, uniformly coloured, pink; claws absent; standard 8.4-9.2 mm long, glabrous, not auriculate, wings 9.2-10 mm long, not auriculate, keel 7.4-8.5 mm long, not beaked, not auriculate, glabrous. Stamens ten; anthers 0.7-0.9 mm long, at two different levels (filaments alternately long and short); filaments united in an open sheath with one free stamen, 5-5.5 mm long. Ovary hairy or glandular; style 4.5-8 mm long, hairy or glandular towards the base, not bearded, terete. Fruit dehiscent (a pod or follicle), 30-55 mm long, 3-3.2 mm wide, sessile or subsessile, 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 Murchison, Coolgardie, Geraldton Sandplains, Avon Wheatbelt, Mallee and Esperance IBRA regions.