Psoralea pinnata L.
dally pine
Much-branched shrub to small tree, to c. 5 m high; twigs sparsely to moderately hairy, ribbed. Lvs imparipinnate, sparsely to moderately hairy, petiolate; leaflets filiform, acute to acuminate, in 1-4 opposite pairs, 15-40 mm long; stipules connate at base, lanceolate, 3-6 mm long. Fls axillary, solitary or in small clusters amongst lvs; pedicels 3-8-(15) mm long; bracts subtending pedicel lanceolate, 4-8 mm long; bracteoles connate into a closed cup on the pedicel. Calyx hairy; calyx teeth somewhat < tube, triangular; lowest tooth slightly larger. Wings and keel white to pale blue; standard deeper blue or mauve toward apex, 12-18 mm long. Pod glabrous, wrinkled, elliptic, 1-seeded, 4-5 mm long; seeds smooth, dark brown.
N.: locally common north of the Waikato, established at Oakura Beach (Taranaki).
Southern Africa 1870
Waste places, scrubland, pasture.
FL Nov-Jan.
Dally pine is a distinctive shrub easily identified when flowering, but pine-like when not flowering or fruiting. It is a persistent weed in parts of Northland.
