Plants
Peas

Peas

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There are over 12,000 pea species across the globe including herbs, shrubs, climbers and trees. They are good colonisers of bare areas assisted by their ability to trap nitrogen from the air and increase soil fertility. Many of the native species are dispersed by ants and will flourish after fire.

The native herbs and smaller shrubs are vulnerable to live-stock grazing and mainly occur in areas where grazing has been excluded or intermittent, such as within some Travelling Stock Reserves.

Although relatively few in number woody introduced peas, such as brooms, Gorse or Tree Lucerne are significant weeds. Exotic woody peas are a poor planting choice, as they are likely to stray far beyond the garden path.

All flowers of this family have the “sweet pea” butterfly shape, comprised of five often brightly coloured petals: the large upright standard at the back, two small lateral wings and the lower keel of two petals that are mostly fused.

Pea plants are generally distinguished from each other by their form (herb, shrub etc), their leaf characteristics, the colour of their flowers and the size and shape of their seed pods. Ideally postings of pea plants will include photographs that encapsulate all these features.

Photographs should show whether leaves are a single blade, or if not the number of leaflets of which they are composed. Photographs should also try and capture the pair of stipules or appendages that may occur at the base of the leaf stem. They can be leaf-like, membranous or spine like.

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Peas

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Discussion

Tapirlord wrote:
Yesterday
You might well be right, but unfortunately, I can't see the foliage or habit in good enough detail to separate E.diffusa from E.microphylla. Given the taxonomic discrepancy between Victoria and the ALA perhaps best to leave this one at genus
Eutaxia (Genus)
Tapirlord wrote:
22 Apr 2025
No no you're right. Good pickup
Ornithopus compressus
Mathew wrote:
22 Apr 2025
@Tapirlord
Ornithopus compressus
Mathew wrote:
22 Apr 2025
Sorry I don't agree, the inflorescence is more pea like which brought me to Ornithopus. there are also differences including the density of hairs on the leaves. Also, closer look shows that the pinnate leaves are a slightly more alternate look then Tribulus which are completely opposite leaves. no sign of pods to provide more evidence. A lot consisted of umbels of roughly 3 flowers. My apologies was also recorded in September last year.
Ornithopus compressus
Jennybach wrote:
20 Apr 2025
Thank you. I did see a larger one too further along the little embankment.
Indigofera adesmiifolia

Species Richness Score (SRS)

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