Ptychosema pusillum Benth.
Dwarf Pea

Scientific Description

Genus Ptychosema. Form prostrate,spreading or scrambling. Habit herb. Stems Indumentum hairy, 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 15-35. 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) 5-13, Arrangement pinnately arranged. Terminal leaflet Presence present, Stalk stalked. Indumentum Presence hairy, Type simple. Stipules Presence apparently absent even from the youngest leaves, Glands without glands, Ribs ribless. Length Stipule length 7.5. 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 4-4.5. Calyx Pustules or glands absent, Ribs ribless, Enlarged in fruit not accrescent. Length Calyx length 7-8. Indumentum Presence hairy, Type with simple hairs. Corolla Colour patterning multicoloured, Colour (when multicoloured - choose one colour) yellow, red or brown, Colour (when multicoloured - choose a second colour) yellow, red or brown, Petal claws ( the narrow base of the petals present. Length Corolla length 10-19. Indumentum Presence absent. Standard Indumentum glabrous, Auricles not auriculate. Length Standard length 10-17.5. Wings Auricles not auriculate. Length Wing length 9-11.5. Keel Auricles not auriculate, Indumentum hairy at least in part, Beak not beaked. Length Keel length 8-9. Stamens Number ten. Anthers anther length 0.5-0.7, Position at two different levels (filaments alternately long and short). Filaments Fusion free (or united at the very base) (?), united in an open sheath (?), united in a closed sheath (?) or united in an open sheath with one free stamen (?). Length Filament length 3-6. 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 5-6.5. Fruit Type dehiscent (a pod or follicle), Constriction constricted between the seeds (?) or not constricted between the seeds (?), Compression flat or compressed, Placement sessile or subsessile, Beak not beaked. Length Fruit length NaN (?). Width Fruit width NaN (?). Indumentum Presence hairy (?) or glabrous (?), Indumentum type with simple hairs (?) or with glandular hairs (?). Flowering time August, September or October. Distribution Botanical Province South-West, IBRA Bioregion Geraldton Sandplains or Swan Coastal Plain. Conservation Code Threatened (T).