Citation: L., Sp. Pl. 759 (1753).

Synonymy: Not Applicable

Common name: Purple milk-vetch.

Description:
Prostrate or ascending annual, stems to 30 cm long; leaves imparipinnate, 3-10 cm long; leaflets 10-25, oblong, 5-10 x 2-4 mm, retuse, long hairs basally attached, appressed, antrorse on both sides; stipules triangular, acute, c. 5 x c. 1 mm, with long hairs, adnate to the stem.

Inflorescence an axillary subsessile raceme 5-10-flowered; flowers bluish, subsessile, 8-10 mm long; bracts ovate-lanceolate, subulate, c. 3 x c. 1 mm, membranous, margins with long hairs; calyx narrowly campanulate, 5-6 mm long, villous; calyx teeth subequal, subulate, as long as the calyx tube; bracteoles absent; standard obovate, 7-8 x c. 2.5 mm, gradually tapering into a claw; wings and keel shorter, auriculate; ovary narrow-oblong, hairs appressed, gradually tapering into a glabrous style.

Pod strictly erect, many-seeded, oblong, 15-20 mm long, gradually acuminate, strongly divided longitudinally by a septum arising from the abaxial suture, partly or completely bilocular, with short and long appressed hairs attached basally; seed compressed, irregularly squarish-reniform, c. 1.5 mm across, smooth.

Image source: fig. 324B in J.P. Jessop and H.R. Toelken Ed. 1986. Flora of South Australia (4th edn).

Published illustration: Cunningham et al. (1982) Plants of western New.South Wales, p. 385.

Distribution:  S.Aust.: FR, EA, MU.   N.S.W.;.   Native from Portugal to Bulgaria. Conservation status: naturalised Flowering time: Sept. — Nov.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Author: Not yet available