About Dillwynia sericea A.Cunn.
Dillwynia sericea A.Cunn. is an erect to low-lying, heath-like shrub. It typically reaches a height between 0.5 and 1 meters (1 foot 8 inches to 3 feet 3 inches), and bears stiff, hairy branches that are especially hairy when young. Its leaves are linear, ranging from 5 to 20 millimeters (0.20 to 0.79 inches) long and less than 1 millimeter (0.039 inches) wide. Flowers are most often arranged in pairs in leaf axils, but may also occur singly or in larger groups. Each flower is roughly sessile, or borne on a pedicel less than 1 millimeter (0.039 inches) long. Initially, the developing flower is topped with leathery brown bracts 2.5 millimeters (0.098 inches) long that fall off as the flower matures. The sepals of this species are 4 to 6 millimeters (0.16 to 0.24 inches) long. The standard petal is nearly twice as long as the sepals, often wider than it is long, apricot-colored with a red base. The petals known as wings are reddish and lance-shaped, with the narrow end oriented toward the base, and the keel measures about 5 millimeters (0.20 inches) long. Flowering takes place from September through December. The fruit produced is an oval pod around 5 millimeters (0.20 inches) long, that usually contains two seeds. This species, commonly called the showy parrot-pea, grows in heath, woodland, and forest. It is widespread and common in eastern New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, and eastern Tasmania, and also occurs in south-eastern Queensland and south-eastern South Australia.
