Bossiaea sp.

Gungahlin, ACT

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Identification history

Bossiaea sp.	8 Oct 2016	MichaelMulvaney
Bossiaea prostrata	13 Sep 2016	BettyDonWood
Bossiaea buxifolia	12 Sep 2016	michaelb
Unidentified	12 Sep 2016	JasonC

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7 comments

BettyDonWood wrote:

13 Sep 2016

The easiest way to tell these two species apart is to look at the back of the upright petal (standard). The back of B. prostrata is pinkish red, that of B. buxifolia is brown. There is also a difference in the way the leaf attaches to the stem. In B. prostrata, there is an angled joint between the leaf and the stem. In B. buxifolia, the leaf merges smoothly into the stem.

KenT wrote:

14 Sep 2016

Hi Betty, I find separating these two species difficult using the floras I have (PlantNET [PN], Flora of Victoria [FoV] and Dorothy Woolcock’s ‘A field guide to Native Peaflowers of Victoria and Southeastern Australia [DW]). When trying to use these sources the colours seemed to be too variable or inconsistent to be relied upon (see selected characters below). Also all too often a character is described in detail for one species and not mentioned for the other species – it makes it hard. The last example I reported I went with the PlantNET key and went with petiole length as my primary character – but not fully convinced I got it right (see http://canberranaturemap.org/Community/Sightings/Details/3346698 ). So I’m wondering if your characters are based on observation of local plants?
Bossiaeae buxifolia - Petiole: short [PN (c. 1 in key)] [FoV]. Pedicel length: 6–10 mm [PN], (3–)5–20 mm [FoV]. Standard outside colour: dark [PN], suffused red [FoV], dark [DW]. Keel: purplish [PN], dark red [DW].
Bossiaeae prostrata - Petiole: to c. 5 mm [PN (2-5 in key)] [FoV]. Pedicel length: 10–20 mm [PN], [FoV]. Standard outside colour: pinkish brown [PN], suffused red and brown [FoV], reddish-brown [DW]. Keel: purplish brown [PN], dark red [DW].

BettyDonWood wrote:

14 Sep 2016

Ken I was quoting from what I wrote in Flowers of the ACT and region (standard colour) and Flowers of the South Coast and Ranges of NSW vol. 3 (leaf stalk). I am away at present. I might have got the standard colour from Flora of the ACT. The description of the petiole if I remember correctly was based on the fact that B. prostrata is one-foliolate (compound with one leaflet) and B. buxifolia has leaves.

BettyDonWood wrote:

14 Sep 2016

Jason, I suppose the upshot of this discussion is that in order to identify this plant at species level, we need a photo showing clearly whether the leaf stalk is jointed or not. A photo of the back of a flower and one showing clearly how long a flower stalk is would help. Field notes on leaf length and flower stalk length also.

KenT wrote:

14 Sep 2016

I had a look at the Flora of the ACT (1979 reprint) and it does give the back of the standard for Bossiaea prostrata as pinkish-red and that of Bossiaea buxifolia as brown. It also gives the stipule as being longer than the petiole for Bossiaea buxifolia and shorter than the petiole for Bossiaea prostrata. However, the usefulness of stipule length as a character seems to vary between floras e.g. Bossiaeae buxifolia – Stipules: setaceous or narrow-triangular, exceeding petiole [FoV], stipules 1–2 mm long [PN]. Bossiaeae prostrata – Stipules: narrow-ovate, 1–2 mm long [FoV], stipules 1–2 mm long [PN].

JasonC wrote:

14 Sep 2016

i will be in the Sanctuary again - let me know if you need more info - if this is an important record, if it is [in either case] a common spp. i won't bother going back, but if in either case it is an important record i am happy to do so

BettyDonWood wrote:

14 Sep 2016

Jason, I would not call it an important record, though it would be nice if it was Bossiaea prostrata, which is nowhere near as common in the ACT as Bossiaea buxifolia.
Ken, from what you have found in the various books, there is a lot of local variation. Myself, I would stick with what is in Flora of the ACT.

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