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Service Notice

The Western Australian Herbarium’s collections management system, WAHerb, and DBCA’s taxonomic names application, WACensus, have been set to read-only mode since 1 October 2025. Recent taxonomic changes are not reflected in Florabase, herbarium collections, or in the census. We are hoping to be able to reinstate services around December 15; we will provide an update at that time.

The notice period started at 9:00 am on Wednesday, 1 October 2025 +08:00 and will end at 12:00 pm on Monday, 15 December 2025 +08:00.

Swainsona thompsoniana R.W.Davis & P.J.H.Hurter

Reference
Nuytsia 23:2-4 (2013)
Conservation Code
Priority Three
Naturalised Status
Native to Western Australia
Name Status
Current

Scientific Description

Genus Swainsona. Form erect. Habit 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 tuberculate (?) or tubercles absent (?), Pustules or glands present (?) or absent (?). Length Leaf length 20-40. 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) 7-11, Arrangement pinnately arranged. Terminal leaflet Presence present, Stalk stalked. Indumentum Presence hairy (?) or glabrous (?), Type simple (?) or gland-tipped (?). Stipules Presence present and persistent to older leaves, Glands without glands, Ribs ribless. Length Stipule length 5-6. Bracteoles Presence present and persistent, Indumentum hairy (?) or glabrous (?), Striation striate (?) or not striate (?). Length Bracteole length NaN (?). Pedicel Presence present (?) or absent (flowers sessile) (?), Indumentum hairy (?) or glabrous (?). Length Pedicel length NaN (?). Calyx Pustules or glands present (?) or absent (?), Ribs ribbed (?) or ribless (?), Enlarged in fruit accrescent (enlarged in fruit) (?) or not accrescent (?). Length Calyx length NaN (?). Indumentum Presence hairy (?) or glabrous (?), Type with simple hairs (?) or with glandular hairs (?). Corolla Colour patterning uniformly coloured, Colour (when uniformly coloured) blue, Petal claws ( the narrow base of the petals present (?) or absent (?). Length Corolla length NaN (?). Indumentum Presence absent (?) or present (?). Standard Indumentum hairy at least in part (?) or glabrous (?), Auricles auriculate (?) or not auriculate (?). Length Standard length NaN (?). Wings Auricles auriculate (?) or not auriculate (?). Length Wing length NaN (?). Keel Auricles auriculate (?) or not auriculate (?), Indumentum hairy at least in part (?) or glabrous (?), Beak beaked (?) or not beaked (?). Length Keel length NaN (?). Stamens Number ten. Anthers anther length NaN (?), Position all at the same level (filaments all the same loength) (?) or 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 NaN (?). 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 not constricted between the seeds, Compression round in cross-section, Placement stipitate. Length Fruit length 45-55. Width Fruit width 5-8. Indumentum Presence glabrous. Flowering time April, June or August. Distribution Botanical Province Eremaean, IBRA Bioregion Pilbara. Conservation Code Priority Three (P3).

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

Distribution

IBRA Regions
Gascoyne, Pilbara.
IBRA Subregions
Augustus, Chichester, Fortescue, Hamersley, Roebourne.
Local Government Areas (LGAs)
Ashburton, East Pilbara, Karratha, Meekatharra.

Nuytsia Journal Articles

Swainsona thompsoniana (Fabaceae: Faboideae: Galegeae), a new species endemic to the Pilbara bioregion of Western Australia

DAVIS, R.W. AND HURTER, P.J.H., Nuytsia 23: 1–4 (2013)

Details PDF
Swainsona thompsoniana R.W.Davis & P.J.H.Hurter is described here as new. An amendment to an existing key for Swainsona Salisb. is provided to account for S. thompsoniana. Swainsona thompsoniana occurs on cracking clay soils from east of Pannawonica to Mount Florence Station and south-east to Tom Price and Wittenoom; a distribution map is included.