Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Hardenbergia violacea

Attractive flowers of Hardenbergia violacea in The Pilliga

Family - Fabaceae (Faboideae)

Common name - Purple Twining Pea, False Sarsaparilla

Flowers and fruit - Flowers are violet with a yellow centre, and are borne in racemes which are often very numerous and conspicuous making it an attractive bush plant. Seed pod is up to 45mm long, and maturing to dark brown. Flowering mostly in spring.

Leaves - Leaves are alternate, simple (not divided into 3 leaflets like other twining pea-flowers), firm, broadly ovate, strongly veined and up to about 9cm long.

Habit and habitat - Hardenbergia violacea is a common and vigorous twiner found in a variety of habitats and soil types. It may be a wiry trailing plant with long stems which twist through the undergrowth, over rocks and roadside banks, or it may scramble over shrubs and ascend small trees.

Numerous flowers and vigorous climbing habit of Hardenbergia violacea

Prominent veins in leaves, and dark brown seed pods

Hardenbergia violacea scrambles over shrubs