About Bossiaea heterophylla Vent.
Bossiaea heterophylla, commonly known as variable bossiaea, is a shrub that typically reaches a maximum height of around 3 metres (9.8 feet). It has flattened, glaucous branches that are more or less hairless, and measure 1 to 3 millimetres (0.039 to 0.118 inches) wide. Its leaves are arranged in two rows along the stems and display variable shapes, ranging from linear to broadly egg-shaped. The leaves are 10 to 30 millimetres (0.39 to 1.18 inches) long and 1.5 to 12 millimetres (0.059 to 0.472 inches) wide, with triangular stipules up to 1 millimetre (0.039 inches) long at their base. The flowers are 7 to 15 millimetres (0.28 to 0.59 inches) long, arranged singly along the branches. Each flower grows from a pedicel up to 5 millimetres (0.20 inches) long, with a few bracts that reach up to 1.5 millimetres (0.059 inches) long. The sepals are 4 to 6 millimetres (0.16 to 0.24 inches) long, and the pedicel also bears bracteoles up to 1.5 millimetres (0.059 inches) long. The standard petal is yellow-orange with a red back, and can be up to 15 millimetres (0.59 inches) long. The wings are 1.5 to 2.5 millimetres (0.059 to 0.098 inches) wide, yellow, and sometimes tinged with pink. The keel is 3 to 4 millimetres (0.12 to 0.16 inches) wide and dark red. Flowering takes place from April to June, and the fruit produced is a flat pod 20 to 40 millimetres (0.79 to 1.57 inches) long. This species grows in a wide range of habitats, most commonly in sandy soils. Its distribution extends along the coast and nearby tablelands from south of Bundaberg in Queensland, through New South Wales, to Victoria as far west as Rosedale. There are also two small populations of this species located in northern Tasmania.
