| Showy parrot-pea | |
|---|---|
| |
| Dillwynia sericea near the Sandstone Caves | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Genus: | Dillwynia |
| Species: | D. sericea |
| Binomial name | |
| Dillwynia sericea A.Cunn. | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Dillwynia sericea, commonly known as showy parrot-pea, is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is an erect to low-lying shrub with hairy stems, linear leaves and apricot-coloured flowers, usually with a red centre.
Description
Dillwynia sericea is an erect, to low-lying, heath-like shrub that typically grows to a height of 0.5–1 m (1 ft 8 in – 3 ft 3 in) with stiff branches that are hairy, especially when young. The leaves are linear, mostly 5–20 mm (0.20–0.79 in) long and less than 1 mm (0.039 in) wide. The flowers are usually arranged in leaf axils in pairs, but also sometimes singly or in larger groups, each flower more or less sessile or on a pedicel less than 1 mm (0.039 in) long. Leathery brown bracts 2.5 mm (0.098 in) long are present at first but fall as the flower develops. The sepals are 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) long. The standard petal is nearly twice as long as the sepals, often wider than long, apricot coloured with a red base. The wings are reddish, lance-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, and the keel is about 5 mm (0.20 in) long. Flowering occurs from September to December and the fruit is an oval pod about 5 mm (0.20 in) long, usually containing two seeds.
Taxonomy and naming
Dillwynia sericea was first formally described in 1825 by Allan Cunningham in Barron Field's book, Geographical Memoirs on New South Wales. The specific epithet (sericea) means "silky".
Distribution
Showy parrot-pea grows in heath, woodland and forest and is widespread and common in eastern New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and eastern Tasmania. It is also found in south-eastern Queensland and south-eastern South Australia.
References
- "Dillwynia sericea". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
- ^ Jeanes, Jeff A. "Dillwynia sericea". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
- ^ "Dillwynia sericea". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
- ^ "Dillwynia sericea". State Herbarium of South Australia. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
- "Dillwynia sericea". APNI. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
- Cunningham, Allan (1825). Field, Barron (ed.). Geographical Memoirs on New South Wales. London: John Murray. p. 350. Retrieved 26 May 2021 – via Project Gutenberg Australia.
- Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 305. ISBN 9780958034180.