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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 Conservation listings displayed on Florabase may also be out of date.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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Canavalia papuana Merr. & L.M.Perry

Reference
J.Arnold Arbor. 23:406 (1942)
Conservation Code
Not threatened
Naturalised Status
Native to Western Australia
Name Status
Current

Climber, to 15 m high. Fl. blue/purple/pink/cream-white, Apr to Aug. Sandy & loamy soils over laterite, sandstone or basalt. Scree slopes, plateaus.

Grazyna Paczkowska, Descriptive Catalogue, 28 May 1996
Image

Scientific Description

Genus Canavalia. Form twining or climbing plants. Habit tree (?), shrub, spindly shrub (broom-like) (?) or herb (?). Stems Indumentum glabrous, Pustules or glands absent, Striation (stems ribbed) not striate, Cross section terete, Spiny on any part of plant not spiny. Leaves or phylloclades Presence clearly present, Position alternate, Leaves compound, Leaves or phylloclade continuous with stem 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 60-130. 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 but early deciduous ( only visible on youngest leaves ), Glands with glands (?) or without glands (?), Ribs ribbed (?) or ribless (?). Length Stipule length NaN (?). Bracteoles Presence present but early deciduous, Indumentum hairy (?) or glabrous (?), Striation striate (?) or not striate (?). Length Bracteole length NaN (?). Pedicel Presence present, Indumentum hairy. Length Pedicel length 2-3. Calyx Pustules or glands absent, Ribs ribless, Enlarged in fruit not accrescent. Length Calyx length 10-13.5. Indumentum Presence hairy, Type with simple hairs. Corolla Colour patterning multicoloured, Colour (when multicoloured - choose one colour) purple or blue, Colour (when multicoloured - choose a second colour) purple or blue, Petal claws ( the narrow base of the petals absent. Length Corolla length 18-23. Indumentum Presence absent. Standard Indumentum glabrous, Auricles auriculate. Length Standard length 15-22.5. Wings Auricles not auriculate. Length Wing length 15-22. Keel Auricles not auriculate, Indumentum glabrous, Beak not beaked. Length Keel length 15-22. Stamens Number ten. Anthers anther length 2-2.5, Position at two different levels (filaments alternately long and short). Filaments Fusion united in an open sheath with one free stamen. Length Filament length 14-19. Ovary Placement stipitate (?) or sessile or subsessile (?). Indumentum Presence hairy or glandular (?) or glabrous (?). Style Indumentum hairy or glandular towards the base (?) or glabrous (?), Bearded ( with a tuft of hairs at apex ) bearded (with a tuft of hairs at apex) (?) or not bearded (?), Apex terete (?) or flattened at apex (?). Length Style length NaN (?). Fruit Type dehiscent (a pod or follicle), Constriction constricted between the seeds or not constricted between the seeds, Compression flat or compressed, Placement stipitate or sessile or subsessile, Beak not beaked. Length Fruit length 110-130. Width Fruit width 12-25. Indumentum Presence glabrous. Flowering time April, May, June, July or August. Distribution Botanical Province Northern, IBRA Bioregion 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, Northern Kimberley, Ord Victoria Plain, Victoria Bonaparte.
IBRA Subregions
Fitzroy Trough, Hart, Keep, Mitchell, Pindanland, Purnululu.
IMCRA Regions
Kimberley.
Local Government Areas (LGAs)
Derby-West Kimberley, Halls Creek, Wyndham-East Kimberley.