Flora of New Zealand Series

dusky coral-pea

Climbing herb; stems moderately hairy, or almost glabrous particularly in older parts. Lvs 3-foliolate, almost glabrous or finely hairy above, finely pubescent or sericeous below and on petioles. Leaflets ovate-elliptic to elliptic, acute or apiculate, entire, (20)-40-100 mm long; stipules ovate-triangular, reflexed, 2-3 mm long; stipels lanceolate, 1-2-(3) mm long. Infl. racemose, usually < lvs, 3-12-flowered, with small deciduous bracts; pedicels much < fls. Calyx sericeous; calyx teeth < tube, narrow-triangular. Corolla dull dark red, 30-35 mm long; keel ± straight. Pod villous, oblong and slightly curved, compressed, many-seeded, 30-80 mm long; seeds brown, oblong-ellipsoid, c. 5 mm long.

N.: known from 2 collections only, a garden escape in waste land in Wellington City.

E. Australia 1981

FL Oct-Mar.