Characteristics
A herb which lies along the ground. The branches can be 1-5 m long. The stems are trailing and silky hairy. The leaves are large and like clover leaves. They have 3 leaflets. These are almost round and are 1-3 cm long. The edges of the leaves are wavy. The flowers are bright red and pea-shaped. They have 2 small yellow-green eyes near the centre. The flowers occur either singly or in pairs in the axils of leaves. The fruit is a long brown pod. It is 3-5 cm long. The pods are hairy. It contains small black seeds. The seeds are attached by white parts.
| Life form |
perennial
|
| Growth form |
herb
|
| Growth support |
free-standing
|
| Foliage retention |
evergreen
|
| Sexuality |
hermaphrodite
|
| Pollination |
-
|
| Spread |
-
|
| Mature width (meter) |
1.0 - 1.5
|
| Mature height (meter) |
-
|
| Root system |
-
|
| Rooting depth (meter) |
-
|
| Root diameter (meter) |
-
|
| Flower color |
|
| Blooming months |
-
|
| Fruit color |
-
|
| Fruiting months |
-
|
| Nitrogen fixer |
rhizobia
|
| Photosynthetic pathway |
c3
|
Environment
It grows in temperate, subtropical and semiarid locations. It grows in dry or sandy soils near the coast. It grows in heath and open forest. It needs well drained soil. It can grow in full sun or light shade. It can stand light frosts. Tasmania Herbarium. Arboretum Tasmania.
| Light |
|
| Soil humidity |
-
|
| Soil texture |
-
|
| Soil acidity |
|
| Soil nutriment |
-
|
| Hardiness (USDA) |
|
Usage
The leaves are used as a substitute for tea. The flowers are sucked for their sweet nectar.
Cultivation
Plants are easily grown from seed which have been soaked in boiling water. They can also be grown from firm cuttings.
| Mode |
cuttings
seedlings
|
| Germination duration (days) |
-
|
| Germination temperacture (C°) |
-
|
| Germination luminosity |
-
|
| Germination treatment |
-
|
| Minimum temperature (C°) |
-
|
| Optimum temperature (C°) |
-
|
| Size |
-
|
| Vigor |
-
|
| Productivity |
-
|
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