Coral Vine

Kennedia coccinea is a twining, climbing or prostrate shrub, with stems up to 4 mm (0.16 in) in diameter covered with white to ginger-coloured hairs. The leaves are trifoliate, the end leaflet 11–83 mm (0.43–3.27 in) long and 7–55 mm (0.28–2.17 in) wide, the lateral leaflets smaller. The leaves are a darker green on the upper surface than the lower and are on a petiole 6–60 mm (0.24–2.36 in) long, each leaflet on a petiolule 0.5–3 mm (0.020–0.118 in) long. The stipules at the base of the petiole are triangular, 1.7–5 mm (0.067–0.197 in) long. The flowers are 9.5–16 mm (0.37–0.63 in) long and arranged in groups of between three and thirty on a peduncle 60–230 mm (2.4–9.1 in) long, each flower on a pedicel 1.5–10 mm (0.059–0.394 in) long. The five sepals are hairy, 5–8 mm (0.20–0.31 in) long with lobes 2–4 mm (0.079–0.157 in) long. The standard petal is orange-red to pink with a greenish-yellow centre, 9.8–16 mm (0.39–0.63 in) long, the wings pink and 8.9–14 mm (0.35–0.55 in) long and the keel red and 8–11 mm (0.31–0.43 in) long. Flowering occurs from July to December and the fruit is a flattened, narrow oblong pod 25–72 mm (0.98–2.83 in) long.

Subspecies calcaria grows in sand over limestone in coastal heath between Jurien Bay and Albany, subsp. coccinea in forest and woodland in a wide area between Northam Augusta and Albany, and subsp. esotera in open forest, mallee-heath or scrub, often in disturbed areas, from near Eneabba to Albany and Israelite Bay.

The species is naturally adapted to sandy or lighter soils and prefers some shade. It is resistant to drought and has some frost tolerance. Plants can be propagated by scarified seed or cuttings of semi-mature growth.

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