''Daviesia acicularis'', commonly known as sharp bitter-pea, is a species of flowering plant in the family

Fabaceae Fabaceae () or Leguminosae,International Code of Nomen ...

and is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

to eastern Australia. It is a small, wiry shrub with tapering, linear

phyllode Phyllodes are modified petiole (botany), petioles or leaf stems, which are leaf-like in appearance and function. In some plants, these become flattened and widened, while the leaf itself becomes reduced or vanishes altogether. Thus the phyllode co ...

s, and single yellow to orange and dark red flowers.

Description

''Daviesia acicularis'' is a wiry shrub that typically grows to a height of up to and has hairy foliage. The phyllodes are tapering linear to narrow elliptic, long and wide with the edges curved downwards or rolled under and a prominent mid-vein on the upper surface. The flowers are long and arranged singly on a peduncle long. The

sepal A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 Etymology The term ''sepalum'' ...

s are long and joined at the base. The

standard Standard may refer to: Symbols * Colours, standards and guidons, kinds of military signs * Standard (emblem), a type of a large symbol or emblem used for identification Norms, conventions or requirements * Standard (metrology), an object ...

petal is yellow to orange with dark red markings and long and the

keel The keel is the bottom-most longitudinal structural element of a watercraft, important for stability. On some sailboats, it may have a fluid dynamics, hydrodynamic and counterbalancing purpose as well. The keel laying, laying of the keel is often ...

is dark red grading to pink near the base. Flowering occurs from August in the north to October in the south and the fruit is a triangular pod long.

Taxonomy and naming

''Daviesia acicularis'' was first formally described in 1805 by James Edward Smith in his book ''Annals of Botany'' from specimens collected at

Port Jackson Port Jackson, commonly known as Sydney Harbour, is a natural harbour on the east coast of Australia, around which Sydney was built. It consists of the waters of Sydney Harbour, Middle Harbour, North Harbour and the Lane Cove and Parramatta ...

Distribution

This species of pea grows in forest and hummock grassland from

Tambo Tambo may refer to: People * Adelaide Tambo (1929–2007), South African anti-apartheid activist * Dali Tambo (born 1959), South African anti-apartheid activist, TV presenter and also son of Oliver Tambo and Adelaide Tambo * Oliver Tambo (1917� ...

and Charleville in central Queensland to Eden and inland as far as

Cowra Cowra () is a town in the Central West, New South Wales, Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. It is the largest population centre and the council seat for the Cowra Shire, with a population of 8,254. Cowra is located approximate ...

West Wyalong West Wyalong is the main town of the Bland Shire in the northern Riverina region of western New South Wales, Australia. In the 2021 Census, West Wyalong's population was 3,037. Located west of Sydney as well as being above sea level, it i ...

and Enngonia in New South Wales.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q15532693 acicularis Flora of New South Wales Flora of the Australian Capital Territory Flora of Queensland Plants described in 1805 Taxa named by James Edward Smith