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Image Credit: Eve Lazarus – Natural Values Atlas
Scientific Name: Eutaxia microphylla
Common Name: spiny bushpea
Family Classification (Clade): Eudicots
Family: Fabaceae
Threatened Species Status: Rare
Permit: It is an offence to collect, disturb, damage or destroy this species unless under permit.
Form Description: Prostrate trailing shrub.
Height (m): 0.05 – 0.3
Flowers: Pea flowers, solitary or paired in leaf axils, shortly stalked, yellow and red (sometimes all yellow).
Fruit: Seed pod – long-stalked and sometimes downy. Turns light brown when mature. Ripe seed is black.
Municipality
Plant Communities
Habitat Notes
Local in the north-east and on Flinders Island.
Site Tolerance
Moist, Shady
Soil Tolerance
Clay, Fertile, Loam, Nutrient-poor, Sandy, Well-drained
Frost Tolerance
Moderate
General Notes
Will tolerate full shade but prefers dappled. Will also tolerate a wide range of soils and is hardy to most frosts. Likes sandy loams or heavy clay loams which are subject to waterlogging but will withstand dry periods. Useful for soil erosion control of small areas. Responds well to hard pruning.
Propagation Calendar
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Flowering Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec -
Seed Collecting Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec -
Sowing Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec -
Cutting Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Propagation Method
Seed Information
Seed Collection
Seed shed soon after maturity.
Seed Treatment Method
Hot Water Hot water is used to soften the hard seed case of some species. This replicates the weathering process. Pour hot (not boiling) water over the seeds and allow them to soak for 4-12 hours.
Seed Treatment Notes
Seed extraction can be difficult although leaving seeds attached to the branch appears to aid opening. Pods that do not open will need to be crushed. Seed should be soaked in hot water (just off the boil) for a few hours. It should then be dried before sowing, or seed may be nicked .