Fabaceae family

 

Plant Group

Genera

Species

Fabaceae

Pea family. Leaves may be undivided, trifoliate or pinnate. Some have stipules. Flowers are characteristic of the pea family: the lobes of the calyx are joined into a cup, the petals comprise the standard, standing up at the back of the flower, the wings spread on either side and the keel consisting of two petals curved to meet over the stamens and pistil. The stamens may be joined into a tube, all separate or nine joined and one free. The pod may be globular, oval or triangular, flattened or inflated, smooth, hairy or covered with hooks.

Image of Dillwynia sericea Image: Mike Bayly

Dicotyledon

Bossiaea

Small shrubs or prostrate plants, flowers usually closing in shade, small simple leaves, stipules tiny, pods flat and round.

Daviesia

Bitter-peas have masses of brown-yellow flowers followed by triangular seed pods.

Dillwynia

Parrot-peas are distinguished by a groove in the upper surface of the leaf.

Gompholobium

Leaves pinnate or digitate and leaflets narrow. Flowers are terminal and solitary and fruit is globular pod.

Platylobium

Flat-pea pods are flat, oblong.

Pultenaea

Bush-peas are distinguished by the conspicuous stipules united behind the leaf stalk with rough margins. They also have a pair of bracteoles at the base of the calyx.