Chorizema varium

Declared rare (DEC)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Genus: Chorizema
Species:
C. varium
Binomial name
Chorizema varium
Synonyms[1]

Chorizema varium, commonly known as bush flame pea,[2][3] is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a spreading shrub with prickly, heart-shaped leaves and orange, yellow and pinkish-red flowers.

Description

Chorizema varium is a prostrate, spreading or scrambling shrub that typically grows to a height of about 30 cm (12 in) and has softly-hairy branches. Its leaves are heart-shaped, 15–45 mm (0.59–1.77 in) long, 8–27 mm (0.31–1.06 in) wide and wavy with more or less prickly teeth on the edges. The flowers are arranged in racemes, each flower on a pedicel 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) long. The sepals are hairy and 6.0–7.5 mm (0.24–0.30 in) long. The flowers are orange, yellow and pinkish-red, the standard petal 9–14 mm (0.35–0.55 in) long, the wings 9.0–10.5 mm (0.35–0.41 in) long, and the keel 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long. Flowering mainly occurs from September to October and the fruit is a pod 13–17 mm (0.51–0.67 in) long.[2][4]

Taxonomy

Chorizema varium was first formally described in 1839 by Joseph Paxton in his "Magazine of Botany".[5][6] The specific epithet (varium) means "variable", referring to the leaves.[7]

Distribution and habitat

This species of pea grows on coastal limestone hills and outcrops in the Swan Coastal Plain bioregion of south-western Western Australia.[2]

Conservation status

Chorizema varium is listed as "Threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions,[2] meaning that it is in danger of extinction.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 "Chorizema varium". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Chorizema varium". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  3. ↑ Merritt, David; Sweedman, Luke (2006). Australian Seeds A Guide to Their Collection, Identification and Biology. CSIRO Publishing. p. 243. ISBN 9780643098602.
  4. ↑ Bentham, George (1864). Flora Australiensis. Vol. 2. London: Lovell Reeve & Co. p. 28. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  5. ↑ "Chorizema varium". APNI. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  6. ↑ Paxton, Joseph (1839). "New, rare, or interesting plants in flower in the principal suburban nurseries". Paxton's magazine of botany, and register of flowering plants. 6: 115–116. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  7. ↑ Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 333. ISBN 9780958034180.
  8. ↑ "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
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