Indigofera australis Willd.
Australian Indigo

Scientific Description

Genus Indigofera. Form erect. Habit shrub, spindly shrub (broom-like). 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 not continuous with stem, Cross section of leaf or leaflet flat with recurved margins, Margins of leaf or leaflet entire, Tuberculate tubercles absent, Pustules or glands absent. Length Leaf length 25-75. Width (entire leaves only) Leaf width NaN (?). Scale leaves length mm long NaN (?). Leaflets Number more than three, Number of leaflets (if more than three) 17-25, 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 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 2.8-3.5. Calyx Pustules or glands absent, Ribs ribless, Enlarged in fruit not accrescent. Length Calyx length 3-3.4. Indumentum Presence hairy, Type with simple hairs. Corolla Colour patterning multicoloured, Colour (when multicoloured - choose one colour) pink, red or purple, Colour (when multicoloured - choose a second colour) pink, red or purple, Petal claws ( the narrow base of the petals absent. Length Corolla length 7.5-8.5. Indumentum Presence absent. Standard Indumentum glabrous, Auricles not auriculate. Length Standard length 6.7-8. Wings Auricles not auriculate. Length Wing length 6.5-7.5. Keel Auricles not auriculate, Indumentum glabrous, Beak not beaked. Length Keel length 4.5-8. Stamens Number ten. Anthers anther length 0.6, Position at two different levels (filaments alternately long and short). Filaments Fusion united in an open sheath with one free stamen. Length Filament length 3-4.5. Ovary Placement stipitate (?) or sessile or subsessile (?). Indumentum Presence glabrous. Style Indumentum glabrous, Bearded ( with a tuft of hairs at apex ) not bearded, Apex terete. Length Style length 5.2-5.5. Fruit Type dehiscent (a pod or follicle), Constriction not constricted between the seeds, Compression round in cross-section, Placement sessile or subsessile, Beak not beaked. Length Fruit length 20-25. Width Fruit width 1.7-2.5. Indumentum Presence glabrous. Flowering time July, August or September. Distribution Botanical Province Eremaean or South-West, IBRA Bioregion Central Ranges, Coolgardie, Geraldton Sandplains, Avon Wheatbelt, Mallee or Esperance.