bossiaea heterophylla fabaceae variable bossiaea graham dowden

Bossiaea heterophyllaBossiaea heterophylla

FABACEAEFABACEAE

Variable BossiaeaVariable Bossiaea

Graham DowdenGraham Dowden

The Genus The Genus BossiaeaBossiaea

Named Named after Boissieu de la after Boissieu de la Martinere, botanist on La Perouse Martinere, botanist on La Perouse expeditionexpedition

Description des Plantes Nouvelles et Description des Plantes Nouvelles et peu connues, cultivees dans le Jardin peu connues, cultivees dans le Jardin de J.M. Cels (1800)de J.M. Cels (1800)

Only found in Australia (endemic)Only found in Australia (endemic)• Species: Aus 40, NSW 19, Sydney 7Species: Aus 40, NSW 19, Sydney 7

FABACEAE family (peas)FABACEAE family (peas)

Source: Robinson (2003) Field Guide to the Native Plants of Sydney; FloraBase; PlantNET

Identification - GenusIdentification - Genus

Source: Photograph Bossiaea bossiaeoides, © Graham Dowden 2007

Stems often flattened

Leaves often small

Flowers axillary,often solitary

5-toothed calyx

Flowers orange to yellow with red to brown marks

Fruit a pod, seeds with aril

Bossiaea Bossiaea heterophyllaheterophylla

heterohetero – different – different phyllaphylla - leaves - leaves

Source: Robinson (2003) Field Guide to the Native Plants of Sydney; Fairley and Moore (1989) Native Plants of the Sydney District

Identification - SpeciesIdentification - Species

Shrub to 1m




Stems oftenflattened


Photograph © Graham Dowden 2009

Large flower 7-15mm

Yellow standard with red, orange or brown keel


Solitary axillary flower

5-toothed calyx




Fruit a brown pod 2-4cm long

Distribution - AustraliaDistribution - Australia

Source: AVH, Australia's Virtual Herbarium Available from http://www.cpbr.gov.au/avh/

Distribution - NSWDistribution - NSW

Source: DECC Atlas of NSW Wildlife Available from http://wildlifeatlas.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au

Source: DECC Atlas of NSW Wildlife Available from http://wildlifeatlas.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au

Distribution - SydneyDistribution - Sydney

Ridges, hillsides, Ridges, hillsides, woodland, open woodland, open forest, dunesforest, dunes

Widespread, Widespread, common, not common, not endangeredendangered

Climate and SoilClimate and Soil

SoilSoil• (Very) infertile, rocky to (Very) infertile, rocky to

sandysandy• Sandstones and dunesSandstones and dunes• Well drained, Well drained,

intermittent waterintermittent water ClimateClimate

• Temperate / coastalTemperate / coastal• Rain 1000-1400mm paRain 1000-1400mm pa• Temperature -2 -35°CTemperature -2 -35°C

Source: Wrigley and Fagg (1996) Australian Native Plants; Benson and McDougall (1996) Ecology of Sydney plant species part 4

Life Span and Fire ResponseLife Span and Fire Response

Life SpanLife Span• Short to mediumShort to medium• 3 years from germination to first fruit3 years from germination to first fruit• Seed may be dispersed by antsSeed may be dispersed by ants

Fire ResponseFire Response• Killed or resproutsKilled or resprouts• Germinates extensively from seed bankGerminates extensively from seed bank

Source: Benson and McDougall (1996) Ecology of Sydney plant species part 44: dicotyledon family Fabaceae. Cunninghamia 4, 553 752

Pests and DiseasesPests and Diseases

Mature Fabaceae Mature Fabaceae seeds often seeds often completely eaten completely eaten by Lepidoptera by Lepidoptera larvae – pods larvae – pods emptyempty

Known species Known species seed predator seed predator beetlebeetle

Source: Wrigley and Fagg (1996) Australian Native Plants; Benson and McDougall (1996) Ecology of Sydney plant species part 4

Bossiaea bossiaeoides, Kimberley, WA

PropagationPropagation

Hard coated seed, long storage lifeHard coated seed, long storage life Scratch, heat or soak seed in boiling Scratch, heat or soak seed in boiling

water to break coatwater to break coat Germinates easily in 3-6 weeksGerminates easily in 3-6 weeks Plant into open sandy soil, full sunPlant into open sandy soil, full sun Possible stem cuttingsPossible stem cuttings

Source: Ralph (2003) Growing Australian Native Plants from Seed; Wrigley and Fagg (1996) Australian Native Plants

SourcesSources

TubestockTubestock• Current - Toolijoola Nursery, DuralCurrent - Toolijoola Nursery, Dural• Often - Harvest Seeds, Terrey HillsOften - Harvest Seeds, Terrey Hills

Seed SuppliersSeed Suppliers• Royston Petrie Seeds, Mudgee Royston Petrie Seeds, Mudgee

$19.10/10g$19.10/10g• Possibly Australian Plants Society Possibly Australian Plants Society

SeedbankSeedbank

Source:

RecommendationsRecommendations

Nitrogen fixing species Nitrogen fixing species In low numbers on siteIn low numbers on site Not in adjacent bush reservesNot in adjacent bush reserves Likely to die out unless stimulated to Likely to die out unless stimulated to

re-germinate from seed after firere-germinate from seed after fire Provides ground cover and habitatProvides ground cover and habitat

Source: Photograph © Graham Dowden 2009

bossiaea heterophylla fabaceae variable bossiaea graham dowden

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