About Bossiaea scolopendria (Andrews) Sm.
Bossiaea scolopendria is an erect, sparsely branched shrub that usually reaches a height of up to 1.5 meters (4 feet 11 inches), and may grow taller. Its branches are flattened, ending in winged cladodes that are 6 to 15 millimeters (0.24 to 0.59 inches) wide. Leaves only appear on young growth, and are quickly replaced by scales that measure 1 to 2 millimeters (0.039 to 0.079 inches) long and 0.4 to 0.6 millimeters (0.016 to 0.024 inches) wide. Flowers grow in up to thirty nodes along the sides of cladodes; each individual flower is 10 to 14 millimeters (0.39 to 0.55 inches) long, and sits on a 1 to 3 millimeter (0.039 to 0.118 inch) long pedicel. At the base of the flower structure, there are two scales and one or a few bracts that are 1.5 to 2.5 millimeters (0.059 to 0.098 inches) long. Bracteoles of about 1.5 to 2.5 millimeters (0.059 to 0.098 inches) long are located near the middle of the pedicel. The five sepals are 4 to 6 millimeters (0.16 to 0.24 inches) long, joined at the base to form a tube. The upper sepal lobes are 2 to 3 millimeters (0.079 to 0.118 inches) long and 1.0 to 1.5 millimeters (0.039 to 0.059 inches) wide, while the lower lobes are 1.5 to 2.5 millimeters (0.059 to 0.098 inches) long. The standard petal is yellow with a red base, and grows up to around 15 millimeters (0.59 inches) long. The wings are purplish brown and 3 to 4 millimeters (0.12 to 0.16 inches) wide, and the keel is pale greenish yellow and also 3 to 4 millimeters (0.12 to 0.16 inches) wide. Flowering occurs mainly from August to September, and the fruit is an oblong pod that is 30 to 45 millimeters (1.2 to 1.8 inches) long. This species grows in heathland and forest on sandstone in near-coastal areas of New South Wales, Australia, between Jervis Bay and Somersby, and it is more common in areas north of Sydney.
