Gastrolobium sericeum

Gastrolobium sericeum is a shrub in the family Fabaceae. It is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia.

Gastrolobium sericeum
An 1891 illustration by Paul Hermann Wilhelm Taubert.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Genus:	Gastrolobium
Species:	G. sericeum
Binomial name
Gastrolobium sericeum (Sm.) G.Chandler & Crisp
Synonyms
Brachysema sericeum (Sm.) Domin Brachysema undulatum Ker Gawl. Chorizema sericeum Sm.

Description

The species is low growing, either being prostrate or growing up to 1 metre in height. Yellow or green pea-flowers are produced from early spring to early summer (September to December in Australia). It is not known whether this species shares the toxic properties of many other members of the genus Gastrolobium.

Taxonomy

The species was first formally described in 1864 by botanist James Edward Smith in Transactions of the Linnean Society of London . He gave it the name Chorizema sericeum Subsequently, it was placed in the genus Brachysema. Finally, in 1995, botanist Michael Crisp placed the species in the genus Gastrolobium along with a number of other Brachysema species.

Distribution

This species is usually found along the edge of streams or swamps.

References

• Chandler, G. T.; M.D. Crisp; L.W. Cayzer & R.J. Bayer (2002). "Monograph of Gastrolobium (Fabaceae: Mirbelieae)" (PDF). Australian Systematic Botany. 15 (5): 619–739. doi:10.1071/SB01010.
• "Gastrolobium sericeum". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
• "Gastrolobium sericeum". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.