About Bossiaea cinerea R.Br.
Bossiaea cinerea is an erect to spreading shrub that typically grows up to 1.5 metres (4 feet 11 inches) tall, and has densely hairy stems. Its leaves are more or less sessile, and shaped like trowels, triangles, eggs, or lances, with a sharply-pointed tip. Leaves measure 10–20 mm (0.39–0.79 in) long and 2–5 mm (0.079–0.197 in) wide, with bristly stipules up to 2.5 mm (0.098 in) long at the base. Flowers grow singly in leaf axils along the branchlets; each flower is 7–12 mm (0.28–0.47 in) long, borne on a 5–20 mm (0.20–0.79 in) long pedicel, with crowded egg-shaped bracts and bracteoles that are 1 mm (0.039 in) long or less. Sepals are 3–5 mm (0.12–0.20 in) long and joined at the base, with upper lobes that are much broader than the lower lobes. The standard petal is yellow with a red base, a darker colour on the back, and grows up to 9 mm (0.35 in) long. The wings are yellow to orange with red or brownish-purple streaks, and are more than twice as long as the sepals. Both the wings and keel are shorter than the standard petal, and are brownish-purple or red. Flowering occurs from August to November, and the fruit is an egg-shaped to oblong pod 19–20 mm (0.75–0.79 in) long. This species, commonly called showy bossiaea, grows in forest, woodland, coastal heath, and scrub. Its range extends south from Bega in New South Wales, through southern Victoria, to far south-eastern South Australia, and it is common and widespread in Tasmania. In horticulture, this bossiaea grows best in well-drained soils, and tolerates salty winds and dry conditions. It can be grown in full sun, but prefers partial shade.
