Communities

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Scientific Name

Swainsona lessertiifolia

Family Name

FABACEAE (LEGUMINOSAE)

Common Name

Poison Pea, Coast Swainson Pea.

Status

Height

stems 0.3m - 0.5m (30-50cm)

Flowers

Showy purple pea flowers, 12-25 in axillary sprays, each flower on a short stalk.

Fruit

Seed pods

Form

Perennial herb with trailing or ascending stems.

Municipalities

Burnie; Dorset; Flinders Island; King Island

Communities

Coastal Vegetation

Habitat Notes

Local in the north west at Woolnorth. Mainly a plant of the coastal sand-hills but occasionally extending inland.

Site Tolerance

Dry; Exposed; Moist; Windy

Frost Tolerance

Soil Tolerance

Loam; Phosphorous intolerant; Poor; Sandy; Well-drained

General Notes

Suitable below powerlines.

Propagation Details

Propagation Calendar

Flowering Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Seed Collecting Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Sowing Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Cutting Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Seed Information

Seed Collection

Pod, oblong, inflated (15-30mm long, 5-8mm wide) and hairy. harvest seed close to maturity and dry in warm area. seeds shed soon after maturity

Seed Treatment Method

Hot water

Seed Storage Life

Viable Seeds Per Gram

Seed Treatment Notes

Harvest seed close to maturity and dry in warm area. Nicking the seed provides the best results but hot treatment is the most commonly used. Soak in hot water (just off the boil) for a few hours. Dry seed before sowing.

Germination Time

Suitable for Direct Seeding

Cuttings

Expected Time to Take Root

Expected Time to Plant Out

Propagation by Division N.B. Transplant only from nearby to avoid disease.

Cutting Notes