Kennedia coccinea
Kennedia coccinea (coral vine) is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a low growing trailing shrub or climber which has twining rust-coloured branchlets with rounded leaflets that are about 1.5 cm long and occur in threes.[1] Orange red or scarlet pea flowers are produced in clusters between August and November in its native range.[1][2]
| Coral vine | |
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| Kennedia coccinea in Glen Forrest, Western Australia | |
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| Species: | K. coccinea |
| Binomial name | |
| Kennedia coccinea Vent. | |
The species was formally described in 1804 by French botanist Étienne Pierre Ventenat in Jardin de la Malmaison.[3] Two varieties were described in Paxton's Magazine of Botany in 1835, namely var. elegans and var. coccinea.[3] Three further varieties were transferred from the genus Zichya in 1923 by Czech botanist Karel Domin, namely var. molly, var. sericea and var. villosa. Currently, three subspecies are recognised:[3]
- K. coccinea (Curtis) Vent. subsp. coccinea
- K. coccinea subsp. calcaria Lally
- K. coccinea subsp. esotera Lally
Cultivation
The species is naturally adapted to sandy or lighter soils and prefers some shade.[1][2] It is resistant to drought and has some frost tolerance. Plants can be propagated by scarified seed or cuttings of semi-mature growth.[1]
References
- Bodkin, Frances (1991). Encyclopaedia Botanica. Australia: Cornstalk Publishing. ISBN 978-0207150647.
- "Kennedia coccinea". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
- "Kennedia coccinea". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved 2008-09-24.