About Swainsona microphylla A.Gray
Swainsona microphylla A.Gray is a perennial herb that grows prostrate, low to the ground, or sometimes erect. It typically reaches a maximum height or length of 60 cm (24 in), and its branches are sometimes softly hairy. Its leaves are imparipinnate, mostly 50 to 150 mm (2.0 to 5.9 in) long, with mostly broadly wedge-shaped to round leaflets. Each leaflet is 1 to 5 mm (0.039 to 0.197 in) in both length and width, and stipules 1 to 4 mm (0.039 to 0.157 in) long grow at the base of the leaf petioles. The flowers, which can be white, pink, or purple, are arranged in racemes holding 10 to 25 flowers each. The raceme grows on a peduncle, and each flower is 6 to 10 mm (0.24 to 0.39 in) long, borne on a 1 to 2 mm (0.039 to 0.079 in) long pedicel. The sepals are joined at the base to form a tube about 1 mm (0.039 in) long, with sepal teeth much shorter than the tube itself. The standard petal is 6 to 8 mm (0.24 to 0.31 in) long and 6 to 9 mm (0.24 to 0.35 in) wide; the wing petals are 6 to 7 mm (0.24 to 0.28 in) long; and the keel petal is 4.5 to 7 mm (0.18 to 0.28 in) long and 2 to 3 mm (0.079 to 0.118 in) wide. The fruit is an almost spherical pod 5 to 10 mm (0.20 to 0.39 in) long and 3 to 9 mm (0.12 to 0.35 in) wide, with the remnant of the style remaining 2 to 4 mm (0.079 to 0.157 in) long. This pea species grows in sandy soils on sandplains and sand hills. It is found across all mainland Australian states and the Northern Territory. In Victoria, it is mostly restricted to the far north-west of the state. In New South Wales, it occurs on the western slopes and plains. In Western Australia, it is widespread across inland areas. In South Australia, it is widespread across scattered locations, and in the Northern Territory, it occurs in the southern part of the territory.
