Lotus australis Andrews
Austral Trefoil

Scientific Description

Genus Lotus. Form erect. Habit herb. Stems Indumentum hairy, Pustules or glands absent, Striation (stems ribbed) striate, Cross section terete or 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 20-60. 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) 5, Arrangement pinnately arranged. Terminal leaflet Presence present, Stalk stalked. Indumentum Presence hairy, Type simple. Stipules Presence apparently absent even from the youngest leaves or 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 and persistent, Indumentum hairy (?) or glabrous (?), Striation striate (?) or not striate (?). Length Bracteole length NaN (?). Pedicel Presence present, Indumentum hairy. Length Pedicel length 2-2.5. Calyx Pustules or glands absent, Ribs ribless, Enlarged in fruit not accrescent. Length Calyx length 8-9. 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. Length Corolla length 13-15. Indumentum Presence absent. Standard Indumentum glabrous, Auricles not auriculate. Length Standard length 12-13.5. Wings Auricles auriculate. Length Wing length 11.5-12. Keel Auricles not auriculate, Indumentum glabrous, Beak not beaked. Length Keel length 12-14.5. Stamens Number ten. Anthers anther length 0.5-0.6, Position at two different levels (filaments alternately long and short). Filaments Fusion united in an open sheath with one free stamen. Length Filament length 10-12. Ovary Placement sessile or subsessile. Indumentum Presence glabrous. Style Indumentum glabrous, Bearded ( with a tuft of hairs at apex ) not bearded, Apex terete. Length Style length 14-14.2. 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 35-50. Width Fruit width 3-3.5. Indumentum Presence glabrous. Flowering time March, May, June, July, August, September or October. Distribution Botanical Province Northern, Eremaean or South-West, IBRA Bioregion Pilbara, Carnarvon, Yalgoo, Murchison, Central Kimberley, Ord-Victorian-Plain, Tanami or Geraldton Sandplains.