Dillwynia pungens is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to the south coast of Western Australia. It is an erect, spindly shrub with cylindrical leaves and yellow flowers with red or orange markings.

Dillwynia pungens
Flowers near Cape Le Grand
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Genus: Dillwynia
Species:
D. pungens
Binomial name
Dillwynia pungens
Synonyms[1]
  • Daviesia condensata Turcz.
  • Dillwynia pungens Lodd., G.Lodd. & W.Lodd. nom. inval., nom. nud.
  • Dillwynia pungens (Sweet) J.B.Mackay ex Benth. isonym
  • Eutaxia pungens Sweet
Foliage near Hopetoun

Description edit

Dillwynia pungens is an erect, spindly shrub that typically grows to a height of 0.5–2 m (1 ft 8 in – 6 ft 7 in). The leaves are glabrous, more or less cylindrical, 8–24 mm (0.31–0.94 in) long, 0.8–1 mm (0.031–0.039 in) wide and sharply-pointed. Each flower is on a hairy pedicel 3–4.2 mm (0.12–0.17 in) long with bracteoles that fall off as the flower opens. The sepals are hairy, 4–4.5 mm (0.16–0.18 in) long and the corolla is mostly yellow, red or orange with yellow, red or orange spots and blotches. The standard petal is 8.5–9 mm (0.33–0.35 in) long, the wings 5.5–8.5 mm (0.22–0.33 in) long and the keel 5.0–5.5 mm (0.20–0.22 in) long. Flowering occurs from August to November.[2]

Taxonomy and naming edit

This species was first formally described in 1827 by Robert Sweet in his book Flora Australasica and was given the name Eutaxia pungens.[3][4] In 1837, George Bentham changed the name to Dillwynia pungens in the Commentationes de Leguminosarum Generibus.[5] The specific epithet (pungens) means "ending in a sharp point", referring to the leaves.[6]

Distribution edit

This dillwynia grows on rocky slopes and ridges in the Esperance Plains and Mallee biogeographic regions on the south coast of Western Australia.[2]

Conservation status edit

Dillwynia pungens is classified as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife.[2]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Dillwynia pungens". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Dillwynia pungens". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  3. ^ "Eutaxia pungens". APNI. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  4. ^ Sweet, Robert (1827). Flora Australasica. p. 28. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  5. ^ "Dillwynia pungens". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  6. ^ Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 287. ISBN 9780958034180.