Gastrolobium celsianum
Encyclopedia
Gastrolobium celsianum, also known as Swan River Pea, is a low-growing shrub which is endemic
to south west
of Western Australia
.
It is a member of the family Fabaceae
and of the genus Gastrolobium
, which contains many toxic species, however the toxicity of this species is unknown.
The species can grow to a height of up of around 1 metre, with a spread of up to 3 metres. The red flowers, which have a distinctive long and curving keel, usually appear between August and November in Australia (late winter to late spring). The ovate leaves
are glossy green above and silvery below.
The species was first formally described by botanist Charles Lemaire in 1844 and published in Horticulteur Francais as Brachysema lanceolatum. In 2002 botanists Gregory Chandler and Michael Crisp reassigned the species to the genus Gastrolobium along with other Brachysema species and gave it the current name. The variety B.l. var. glabrescens Meisn. was made a species in its own right and named Gastrolobium bracteolosum (Crisp) G.Chandler & Crisp.
Gastrolobium celsianum occurs in the south-west of the state, usually on sandy or gravelly soils along watercourses and also within mallee
and woodland where it is found on flats or in moist depressions.
The species has been popular in cultivation for many years. It is tolerant of a wide range of soils but requires good drainage. Although performing best in full sun, it will tolerate light shade.
Endemic (ecology)
Endemism is the ecological state of being unique to a defined geographic location, such as an island, nation or other defined zone, or habitat type; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsewhere. For example, all species of lemur are endemic to the...
to south west
Southwest Australia
Southwest Australia is a biodiversity hotspot that includes the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub ecoregions of Western Australia. The region has a wet-winter, dry-summer Mediterranean climate, one of five such regions in the world...
of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
.
It is a member of the family Fabaceae
Fabaceae
The Fabaceae or Leguminosae, commonly known as the legume, pea, or bean family, is a large and economically important family of flowering plants. The group is the third largest land plant family, behind only the Orchidaceae and Asteraceae, with 730 genera and over 19,400 species...
and of the genus Gastrolobium
Gastrolobium
Gastrolobium is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. There are over 100 species in this genus, and all but two are native to the south west region of Western Australia....
, which contains many toxic species, however the toxicity of this species is unknown.
The species can grow to a height of up of around 1 metre, with a spread of up to 3 metres. The red flowers, which have a distinctive long and curving keel, usually appear between August and November in Australia (late winter to late spring). The ovate leaves
Leaf shape
In botany, leaf shape is characterised with the following terms :* Acicular : Slender and pointed, needle-like* Acuminate : Tapering to a long point...
are glossy green above and silvery below.
The species was first formally described by botanist Charles Lemaire in 1844 and published in Horticulteur Francais as Brachysema lanceolatum. In 2002 botanists Gregory Chandler and Michael Crisp reassigned the species to the genus Gastrolobium along with other Brachysema species and gave it the current name. The variety B.l. var. glabrescens Meisn. was made a species in its own right and named Gastrolobium bracteolosum (Crisp) G.Chandler & Crisp.
Gastrolobium celsianum occurs in the south-west of the state, usually on sandy or gravelly soils along watercourses and also within mallee
Mallee Woodlands and Shrublands
Mallee Woodlands and Shrublands is a Major Vegetation Group which occurs in semi-arid areas of southern Australia. The vegetation is dominated by mallee eucalypts which are rarely over 6 metres high...
and woodland where it is found on flats or in moist depressions.
The species has been popular in cultivation for many years. It is tolerant of a wide range of soils but requires good drainage. Although performing best in full sun, it will tolerate light shade.