FABACEAE

Rhynchosia densiflora supsp. chrysadenia

Wildflowers

Local Context

A creeper that prefers woodland, riverine thickets, rocky outcrops. Only one record for Raptor's View so far, but likely not uncommon.

Identification

Growth: Climbing, trailing, or upward-growing perennial herb (0.3–3 m long) [1, 2].
Flowers: Yellow with purple veining on the main upper petal (drying to orange-brown), with yellow wings and a greenish keel; arranged in dense, short-stalked, oblong clusters growing from the leaf bases [1, 3, 4].
Leaves: Divided into three leaflets that vary from oval or diamond-shaped to nearly round (1.5–8 cm long); the undersides are densely covered with small orange or black gland dots [1, 2].
Texture: Leaves range from having scaly hairs on the veins to being softly hairy on both sides; the flowers and fruit are also covered in hairs and glands [1-4].
Fruit: A small, oval to oblong pod (10–14 mm long) that turns dark when mature, covered in a mix of short and long hairs and orange-red glands; it contains slightly flattened seeds that are reddish-brown mottled with black, or almost entirely black [1, 4].

Did You Know?

Rhynchosia densiflora subsp. chrysadenia is a vigorous climbing or trailing herb that can grow up to 8 metres long. It is easily recognised by its three-part leaves that are densely covered with tiny, sparkling golden to orange-red gland dots. The plant produces long clusters of yellow flowers with delicate purple veins, which later develop into small, velvety seed pods also featuring the signature reddish glands.

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