Common name: Slender tick trefoil
Pullenia gunnii (Benth. ex Hook.f.) H.Ohashi & K.Ohashi APNI* Synonyms: Desmodium gunnii Benth. ex Hook.f. APNI* Desmodium gunnii Benth. ex Hook.f. APNI*
Description: Sprawling to ascending perennial; stems to 40 cm long, glabrous or with appressed hairs.
Leaves 3-foliolate; leaflets rhombic and truncate at apex, subglabrous, a few hairs on veins on lower surface, terminal leaflets 0.5–2 cm long, 7–11 mm wide, lateral leaflets smaller; petiole 10–30 mm long; stipules 2–4 mm long.
Racemes to 16 cm long, pedicels 1.5–7 mm long. Flowers 1–1.2 mm long, pink or lavender.
Pods up to 30 mm long; with a dense indumentum of spreading hooked hairs; articles up to 6, 4–5 mm long.
Flowering: Flowers and fruits summer–autumn.
Distribution and occurrence: Commonly in sclerophyll forest, usually in shady conditions; coastal sites west to Coonabarabran district.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, SC, NT, CT, ST, CWS, NWS
Other Australian states: Qld Vic. Tas.
Previously included in the genus Desmodium, but molecular data have demonstrated that this genus needs to be greatly divided.
Text by C. Gardner & T. A. James, name updated by R.L. Barrett, Sept. 2019 Taxon concept:
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data ***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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