Daviesia genistifolia A.Cunn. ex Benth.

Common Name and Growth Form

Daviesia genistifolia, commonly known as broom bitter-pea, is a glabrous, low to open shrub that usually grows to between 0.6 and 2.0 metres tall, which is 2 feet 0 inches to 6 feet 7 inches.

Phyllode Characteristics

It has cylindrical, sharply-pointed phyllodes that are 5 to 30 millimetres long, or 0.20 to 1.18 inches, and 0.5 to 1.25 millimetres wide, or 0.020 to 0.049 inches, at their base.

Inflorescence Arrangement

Its flowers are arranged in groups of two to six in leaf axils. This arrangement sits on a peduncle 0.5 to 1.3 millimetres long, or 0.020 to 0.051 inches, with a rachis 1 to 8 millimetres long, or 0.039 to 0.315 inches.

Individual Flower Pedicel and Bracts

Each individual flower grows on a 1 to 3 millimetre long pedicel, or 0.039 to 0.118 inches, with oblong bracts that measure approximately 1 millimetre, or 0.039 inches, in length.

Sepal Structure

The sepals of this species are 2 to 4 millimetres long, or 0.079 to 0.157 inches, and joined at the base. The upper two sepals lobes are joined for most of their length, while the lower three lobes have shallow teeth 0.5 to 0.6 millimetres long, or 0.020 to 0.024 inches.

Standard Petal Features

The standard petal is egg-shaped, 4.5 to 5.5 millimetres long, or 0.18 to 0.22 inches, 5.0 to 6.5 millimetres wide, or 0.20 to 0.26 inches, and yellow or orange-yellow with a dark red base.

Wing and Keel Petals

The wing petals are 5.0 to 5.5 millimetres long, or 0.20 to 0.22 inches, and deep red, and the keel petal is 4.0 to 4.5 millimetres long, or 0.16 to 0.18 inches, and maroon.

Flowering Period and Fruit

Flowering occurs between August and October, and the fruit is a flattened triangular pod 8 to 11 millimetres long, or 0.31 to 0.43 inches.

Habitat

Broom bitter-pea grows in dry forests, and is widespread across south-eastern Australia.

Geographic Distribution

Its distribution ranges from central Queensland through New South Wales to eastern Victoria, and also includes the Flinders Ranges in South Australia.