Skip to main content

Gastrolobium bilobum R.Br.
Heart Leaf Poison

Reference
W.T.Aiton, Hort.Kew. Ed.2,3:16 (1811)
Conservation Code
Not threatened
Naturalised Status
Native to Western Australia
Name Status
Current

Bushy, erect shrub or tree (rarely), to 4 m high. Fl. yellow/orange, Aug to Dec. Sandy, clay or loamy soils over granite. Around rocky peaks and outcrops and along rivers.

Amanda Spooner, Descriptive Catalogue, 9 October 2003
Image

Scientific Description

Genus Gastrolobium. Form erect. Habit shrub, spindly shrub (broom-like). Stems Indumentum glabrous, Pustules or glands absent, Striation (stems ribbed) striate, Cross section terete, Spiny on any part of plant not spiny. Leaves or phylloclades Presence clearly present, Position opposite or whorled, Leaves simple, 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 or lobed, Tuberculate tubercles absent, Pustules or glands absent. Length Leaf length 20-60. Width (entire leaves only) Leaf width 4-17. Scale leaves length mm long NaN (?). Indumentum Presence glabrous. Stipules Presence present and persistent to older 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 5-7.5. Calyx Pustules or glands absent, Ribs ribless, Enlarged in fruit not accrescent. Length Calyx length 4-4.7. Indumentum Presence hairy or glabrous, Type with simple hairs. Corolla Colour patterning multicoloured, Colour (when multicoloured - choose one colour) yellow or orange, Colour (when multicoloured - choose a second colour) yellow or orange, Petal claws ( the narrow base of the petals present. Length Corolla length 8.5-11. Indumentum Presence absent. Standard Indumentum glabrous, Auricles not auriculate. Length Standard length 7.5-10. Wings Auricles auriculate. Length Wing length 5.5-10. Keel Auricles auriculate, Indumentum glabrous, Beak not beaked. Length Keel length 7-9. Stamens Number ten. Anthers anther length 0.6-0.7, Position at two different levels (filaments alternately long and short). Filaments Fusion free (or united at the very base). Length Filament length 5-8.5. Ovary Placement stipitate. 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 8-10.5. Fruit Type dehiscent (a pod or follicle), Constriction not constricted between the seeds, Compression round in cross-section, Placement stipitate, Beak not beaked. Length Fruit length NaN (?). Width Fruit width NaN (?). Indumentum Presence hairy, Indumentum type with simple hairs. Flowering time August, September, October, November or December. Distribution Botanical Province South-West, IBRA Bioregion Avon Wheatbelt, Jarrah Forest, Mallee, Warren, Esperance or Swan Coastal Plain.

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

Distribution

IBRA Regions
Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest, Mallee, Swan Coastal Plain, Warren.
IBRA Subregions
Eastern Mallee, Fitzgerald, Katanning, Northern Jarrah Forest, Perth, Recherche, Southern Jarrah Forest, Warren, Western Mallee.
IMCRA Regions
Leeuwin-Naturaliste, WA South Coast.
Local Government Areas (LGAs)
Albany, Armadale, Augusta Margaret River, Boddington, Boyup Brook, Bridgetown-Greenbushes, Broomehill-Tambellup, Busselton, Capel, Cranbrook, Cuballing, Dardanup, Denmark, Donnybrook-Balingup, Esperance, Gnowangerup, Harvey, Kalamunda, Kojonup, Manjimup, Mundaring, Nannup, Narrogin, Plantagenet, Wagin, Waroona, West Arthur, Williams.