Swainsona leeana J.Z.Weber

Scientific Description

Twining or climbing plants, herb. Stems terete, not spiny, hairy; pustules or glands absent. Leaves or phylloclades clearly present, compound, alternate, not continuous with stem, 12-20 mm long, hairy, with simple hairs, flat with flat margins; margins entire; tubercles absent, leaflets 5-9, pinnately arranged, terminal leaflet present, stalked; pustules or glands absent. Stipules present and persistent to older leaves, 3-3.5 mm long, without glands, ribless. Pedicel present, 2-4 mm long, hairy. Bracteoles present and persistent. Calyx 2.5-3 mm long, not accrescent, hairy, with simple hairs, ribless; pustules or glands absent. Corolla 4-4.5 mm long, multicoloured, mostly pink or purple, with some pink or purple spots, streaks or blotches; claws present; standard 3.5-4.5 mm long, glabrous, not auriculate, wings 3-3.5 mm long, not auriculate, keel 4-4.5 mm long, not beaked, not auriculate, glabrous. Stamens ten. Ovary stipitate, hairy or glandular; style 3-4 mm long, hairy or glandular towards the base, bearded (with a tuft of hairs at apex), terete. Fruit dehiscent (a pod or follicle), 10-15 mm long, 5-6 mm wide, stipitate, not constricted between the seeds, round in cross-section, hairy, with simple hairs. Flowers in September and October. Occurs in the Eremaean Botanical Province, in the Pilbara, Carnarvon, Gascoyne, Gibson Desert, Yalgoo, Murchison, Great Victorian Desert and Coolgardie IBRA regions.