Grey Swainsona

Swainsona canescens is an ascending or upright perennial herb with stiff stems over 20 cm (7.9 in) long and more than 3 mm (0.12 in) wide near the base. The leaves are 5–12 cm (2.0–4.7 in) long, usually with 10-13 egg-shaped or broadly elliptic to oblong leaflets, 10–20 mm (0.39–0.79 in) long, 5–15 mm (0.20–0.59 in) wide, almost smooth on upper surface or with silky hairs on both surfaces and occasionally with a triangular, short point or slight notch. The 20-35 flowers are 8–9 mm (0.31–0.35 in) long borne on a raceme, peduncle strong and 10–20 cm (3.9–7.9 in) long. The bracts are triangular-shaped up to 5 mm (0.20 in) long, smooth on the inside and tapering to a point. The calyx is white, woolly to covered in silky, soft, straight hairs. The petals mostly purple, sometimes pinkish-purple or yellow and green, standard petal broadly egg-shaped, finely notched, wings oblong-shaped and the keel semi-circular. Flowering occurs in May or July to December and the fruit is a pod 10–15 cm (3.9–5.9 in) long and about 4 mm (0.16 in) wide, densely covered in short, matted hairs and containing up to 10 seeds.

Swainsona canescens usually grows on red sandy soils in Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

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