Brachysema R.Br.

Greek brachys — short, sema — standard.

Prostrate, straggling, rarely erect shrubs. Leaves alternate or opposite, simple and leathery; stipules sometimes present. Flowers terminal or axillary, solitary or few together on leafy stalks. Sepals forming 2 lips, upper 2 fused. Standard shorter than the wings and keel; keel large and mostly longer than the wings. Stamens free. Ovary more or less stalked. Fruit pod ovoid to elongated, 2-valved, dehiscent.

Grown for the attractive, mostly red flowers and landscape potential as groundcovers.

10 species endemic to SW WA.

Seed (pre-treated) or semi-hardwood cuttings.

Flowers predominantly red or green and the standard shorter than the keel.

Crisp (1995b, a botanical revision that includes notes on the history of these plants in cultivation).

Source: Spencer, R. (2002). Fabaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 3. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 2. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.

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kingdom Plantae
phylum   Tracheophyta
class    Magnoliopsida
superorder     Rosanae
order      Fabales
family       Fabaceae
Higher taxa
Subordinate taxa
species         Brachysema celsianum Lem.
species         Brachysema latifolium R.Br.
species         Brachysema praemorsum Meisn.
species         Brachysema sericeum (Sm.) Domin