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The Western Australian Herbarium’s collections management system and census were set to read-only mode on 1 October 2025. Taxonomic updates published since this time are not being reflected in Florabase, herbarium collections, or Western Australia’s taxonomic names census (Nomos). Conservation listings displayed on Florabase may also be out of date. Please refer to DBCA’s Threatened species and communities webpage for the most recent Threatened and Priority Flora List, noting that recent taxonomic updates are similarly not included. Our database migration is moving to a staging phase. We thank you for your patience as we ensure the integrity of our biodiversity data, develop new workflows, and train staff to use the new systems. Please reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns.

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Cajanus cinereus (Benth.) F.Muell.

Reference
Syst.Census Austral.Pl. 41 (1882)
Conservation Code
Not threatened
Naturalised Status
Native to Western Australia
Name Status
Current

Erect or straggling shrub, 0.4-2 m high. Fl. yellow, Mar to Oct. Sandstone, granite, limestone, basalt. Rocky hills, outcrops, along rocky watercourses.

Grazyna Paczkowska, Descriptive Catalogue, 27 May 1996

Scientific Description

Genus Cajanus. Form erect or prostrate,spreading or scrambling. Habit shrub, spindly shrub (broom-like). Stems Indumentum hairy, Pustules or glands absent, Striation (stems ribbed) not striate, Cross section winged, Spiny on any part of plant not spiny. Leaves or phylloclades Presence clearly present, Position alternate, Leaves compound, Leaves or phylloclade continuous with stem not continuous with stem, Cross section of leaf or leaflet flat with flat margins, Margins of leaf or leaflet entire, Tuberculate tubercles absent, Pustules or glands absent. Length Leaf length 65. Width (entire leaves only) Leaf width NaN (?). Scale leaves length mm long NaN (?). Leaflets Number three, Arrangement pinnately arranged. Terminal leaflet Presence present, Stalk stalked. Indumentum Presence hairy, Type simple. Stipules Presence present and persistent to older leaves, Glands with glands (?) or without glands (?), Ribs ribbed (?) or ribless (?). Length Stipule length NaN (?). Bracteoles Presence absent, Indumentum hairy (?) or glabrous (?), Striation striate (?) or not striate (?). Length Bracteole length NaN (?). Pedicel Presence present, Indumentum hairy. Length Pedicel length 5-9.5. Calyx Pustules or glands absent, Ribs ribless, Enlarged in fruit not accrescent. Length Calyx length 9-11. Indumentum Presence hairy, Type with simple hairs. Corolla Colour patterning uniformly coloured, Colour (when uniformly coloured) yellow, Petal claws ( the narrow base of the petals absent. Length Corolla length 18-21. Indumentum Presence absent. Standard Indumentum glabrous, Auricles not auriculate. Length Standard length 17-21. Wings Auricles auriculate. Length Wing length 14-21. Keel Auricles not auriculate, Indumentum glabrous, Beak not beaked. Length Keel length 15-20. Stamens Number ten. Anthers anther length 1.1-1.5, Position at two different levels (filaments alternately long and short). Filaments Fusion free (or united at the very base) or united in an open sheath with one free stamen. Length Filament length 17-21. Ovary Placement sessile or subsessile. Indumentum Presence hairy or glandular. Style Indumentum hairy or glandular towards the base, Bearded ( with a tuft of hairs at apex ) not bearded, Apex terete. Length Style length 19-21. Fruit Type dehiscent (a pod or follicle), Constriction not constricted between the seeds, Compression flat or compressed or round in cross-section, Placement sessile or subsessile, Beak not beaked. Length Fruit length 28-35. Width Fruit width 7-10. Indumentum Presence hairy, Indumentum type with simple hairs. Flowering time March, April, May, June, July, August, September or October. Distribution Botanical Province Northern or Eremaean, IBRA Bioregion Great Sandy Desert, Pilbara, Northern Kimberley, Victoria Bonaparte, Central Kimberley, Ord-Victorian-Plain or Dampierland.

C. Hollister and K.R. Thiele, 17 April 2024

Distribution

IBRA Regions
Central Kimberley, Dampierland, Great Sandy Desert, Northern Kimberley, Ord Victoria Plain, Pilbara, Victoria Bonaparte.
IBRA Subregions
Berkeley, Chichester, Fitzroy Trough, Fortescue, Hamersley, Keep, Mackay, McLarty, Mitchell, Pentecost, Pindanland, Roebourne, South Kimberley Interzone.
IMCRA Regions
Kimberley, Pilbara (nearshore).
Local Government Areas (LGAs)
Ashburton, Broome, Derby-West Kimberley, East Pilbara, Halls Creek, Karratha, Port Hedland, Wyndham-East Kimberley.