Bossiaea rosmarinifolia Lindl.

Common Name and Growth Form

Bossiaea rosmarinifolia, commonly known as Grampians bossiaea, is an erect or spreading shrub that usually reaches a height of 2.5 to 3 meters (8 feet 2 inches to 9 feet 10 inches).

Stem Characteristics

It has cylindrical stems.

Leaf Shape and Size

Its leaves are linear, 10 to 28 millimeters (0.39 to 1.10 inches) long and 1 to 3 millimeters (0.039 to 0.118 inches) wide, borne on a petiole up to 1.5 millimeters (0.059 inches) long.

Stipule Characteristics

Reddish stipules 2 to 4 millimeters (0.079 to 0.157 inches) long grow at the base of each leaf.

Flower Arrangement and Pedicel

Flowers are arranged singly or in pairs, 7 to 12 millimeters (0.28 to 0.47 inches) long, and grow on a thin, thread-like pedicel 6 to 8 millimeters (0.24 to 0.31 inches) long.

Bract and Bracteole Features

Crowded bracts less than 1 millimeter (0.039 inches) long are present at the base of the pedicel, and bracteoles around 1 millimeter (0.039 inches) long are located near the middle of the pedicel.

Sepal Structure

The five sepals are 3 to 5 millimeters (0.12 to 0.20 inches) long, joined at the base to form a tube.

Sepal Lobe Dimensions

The upper sepal lobes are 1 to 2.5 millimeters (0.039 to 0.098 inches) long and 2.5 to 3 millimeters (0.098 to 0.118 inches) wide, while the lower lobes are shorter and much narrower.

Standard Petal Characteristics

The standard petal is yellow with a red base and up to 12 millimeters (0.47 inches) long.

Wing Petal Characteristics

The wing petals are yellow with red or brownish markings, and around 2.5 millimeters (0.098 inches) wide.

Keel Petal Characteristics

The keel petal is red, and around 3.5 millimeters (0.14 inches) wide.

Flowering Period

Flowering takes place from September to October.

Fruit Characteristics

The fruit is an elliptic pod 10 to 15 millimeters (0.39 to 0.59 inches) long.

Habitat and Distribution

This species grows in open forest within Grampians National Park.