Characters

There are 64 characters included in the key, pertaining to vegetative, reproductive, geographic distribution and genus. The characters we have chosen are relatively easy to assess from any reasonably intact specimen, and in conjunction with character state images and notes, are readily interpreted.

Vegetative characters

Plant habit
Mature plant height
Spines
Branchlet cross-section (young branchlets)
Branchlet hairiness (young branchlets)
Leaf presence
Leaf arrangement
Leaf type
Leaf tendrils
Leaf or leaflet shape
Leaf or leaflet lamina transverse section
Leaf or leaflet margin
Leaf or leaflet margin deflection
Leaf or leaflet apex shape
Leaf or leaflet blade base
Leaf or leaflet surface hairiness (upper)
Leaf or leaflet surface hairiness (lower)
Leaf lamina length
Leaf or leaflet venation
Leaflet length (longest leaflet)
Leaflets stipellate
Petiole presence
Stipule presence
Stipule fusion

Floral and fruit (reproductive) characters

Flower-subtending bracts persistence
Inflorescence or flower position
Inflorescence rachis
Pedicel presence
Calyx symmetry
Calyx hairiness
Calyx tube relative length
Calyx length
Calyx lobe apex shape
Bracteole presence
Bracteole position
Standard petal reduction
Standard petal main colour (front of petal)
Standard petal length (incl. claw)
Standard petal length relative to breadth
Wing and keel petal relative length
Stamen fusion
Pod shape
Pod transverse section
Pod bilocular
Pod stipitate
Pod hairiness
Pod dehiscence
Pod length
Seed shape
Aril presence

Geographic distribution characters

Distribution by biogeographical region
Distribution by state
Northern Western Australia
Southern Western Australia
Northern Territory
South Australia
Queensland
New South Wales (incl. ACT)
Victoria

Genus characters

Abrus - Bossiaea
Cajanus - Cytisus
Dalbergia - Eutaxia
Flemingia - Jacksonia
Kennedia - Neonotonia
Onobrychis - Pycnospora
Rhynchosia - Swainsona
Tadehagi - Zornia

Last updated 23 March, 2009 by webmaster@anbg.gov.au