''Swainsona'' is a large genus of

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. They include all forbs (flowering plants without a woody stem), grasses and grass-like plants, a vast majority of ...

s native to

Australasia Australasia is a region that comprises Australia, New Zealand and some neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term is used in a number of different contexts, including geopolitically, physiogeographically, philologically, and ecolo ...

. There are 85 species, all but one of which are endemic to Australia. A member of the family Fabaceae (

legumes A legume () is a plant in the family Fabaceae (or Leguminosae), or the fruit or seed of such a plant. When used as a dry grain, the seed is also called a pulse. Legumes are grown agriculturally, primarily for human consumption, for livestock fo ...

), it is most closely related to the New Zealand genera ''

Montigena ''Montigena'' is a genus of flowering plant in the legume family Fabaceae, comprising a single species of dicotyledonous herb native to New Zealand, known as ''Montigena novae-zelandiae'' or more commonly the scree pea. The plant is small a ...

'' (scree pea), ''

Clianthus ''Clianthus'', commonly known as kakabeak (''kōwhai ngutukākā'' in Māori), is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family Fabaceae, comprising two species of shrubs native to New Zealand. They have striking clusters of red flowers ...

'' (kakabeak), and ''Carmichaelia'' (

New Zealand broom ''Carmichaelia'' (New Zealand brooms) is a genus of 24 plant species belonging to Fabaceae, the legume family. All but one species are native to New Zealand; the exception, '' Carmichaelia exsul'', is native to Lord Howe Island and presumably d ...

). ''Swainsona'' is named after English botanist

Isaac Swainson Isaac Swainson (1746–1812) was famous for his botanical garden, which was largely funded from the profits of a herbal remedy for venereal disease. For his commercial activities in the latter field, he has been called a "radical quack".McCalman, ...

. A few species are known to produce

swainsonine Swainsonine is an indolizidine alkaloid. It is a potent inhibitor of Golgi alpha-mannosidase II, an immunomodulator, and a potential chemotherapy drug. As a toxin in locoweed (likely its primary toxin) it also is a significant cause of econo ...

, a

phytotoxin Phytotoxins are substances that are poisonous or toxic to the growth of plants. Phytotoxic substances may result from human activity, as with herbicides, or they may be produced by plants, by microorganisms, or by naturally occurring chemical reac ...

harmful to

livestock Livestock are the domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to provide labor and produce diversified products for consumption such as meat, eggs, milk, fur, leather, and wool. The term is sometimes used to refer solely to anima ...

(see

Locoweed Locoweed (also crazyweed and loco) is a common name in North America for any plant that produces swainsonine, a phytotoxin harmful to livestock. Worldwide, swainsonine is produced by a small number of species, most of them in three genera of the ...

). In Australia, animals intoxicated with swainsonine are said to be

pea struck Locoweed (also crazyweed and loco) is a common name in North America for any plant that produces swainsonine, a phytotoxin harmful to livestock. Worldwide, swainsonine is produced by a small number of species, most of them in three genera of th ...

. ;Selected species *''

Swainsona acuticarinata ''Swainsona'' is a large genus of flowering plants native to Australasia. There are 85 species, all but one of which are endemic to Australia. A member of the family Fabaceae (legumes), it is most closely related to the New Zealand genera ''Mont ...

'' (

A.T.Lee Alma Theodora Lee (née Melvaine; born 12 April 1912, Tingha, died 20 October 1990, Wellington) was an Australian botanist and plant taxonomist who worked at the National Herbarium of New South Wales, University of Sydney, and CSIRO. She is n ...

) Joy Thomps. *''

Swainsona adenophylla ''Swainsona'' is a large genus of flowering plants native to Australasia. There are 85 species, all but one of which are endemic to Australia. A member of the family Fabaceae (legumes), it is most closely related to the New Zealand genera ''Mont ...

'' J.M.Black *''

Swainsona affinis ''Swainsona'' is a large genus of flowering plants native to Australasia. There are 85 species, all but one of which are endemic to Australia. A member of the family Fabaceae (legumes), it is most closely related to the New Zealand genera ''Mo ...

'' (

) Joy Thomps. *''

Swainsona beasleyana ''Swainsona'' is a large genus of flowering plants native to Australasia. There are 85 species, all but one of which are endemic to Australia. A member of the family Fabaceae (legumes), it is most closely related to the New Zealand genera ''Mon ...

'' F.Muell. *''

Swainsona behriana ''Swainsona behriana'', commonly known as Southern Swainson-pea, is a small perennial plant in the family Fabaceae that is native to Australia. It grows to 15 cm high, has hairy stems and pinnate leaves that are 3 to 5 cm long. Race ...

'' F.Muell. ex J.M.Black *''

Swainsona brachycarpa ''Swainsona'' is a large genus of flowering plants native to Australasia. There are 85 species, all but one of which are endemic to Australia. A member of the family Fabaceae (legumes), it is most closely related to the New Zealand genera ''Mon ...

'' Benth. *''

Swainsona bracteata ''Swainsona'' is a large genus of flowering plants native to Australasia. There are 85 species, all but one of which are endemic to Australia. A member of the family Fabaceae (legumes), it is most closely related to the New Zealand genera ''Mon ...

'' (Maiden & Betche) Joy Thomps. *''

Swainsona burkei ''Swainsona'' is a large genus of flowering plants native to Australasia. There are 85 species, all but one of which are endemic to Australia. A member of the family Fabaceae (legumes), it is most closely related to the New Zealand genera ''Mon ...

'' F.Muell. ex Benth. *''

Swainsona burkittii ''Swainsona'' is a large genus of flowering plants native to Australasia. There are 85 species, all but one of which are endemic to Australia. A member of the family Fabaceae (legumes), it is most closely related to the New Zealand genera ''Mon ...

'' F.Muell. ex Benth. *''

Swainsona cadellii ''Swainsona'' is a large genus of flowering plants native to Australasia. There are 85 species, all but one of which are endemic to Australia. A member of the family Fabaceae (legumes), it is most closely related to the New Zealand genera ''Mon ...

'' F.Muell. ex C.Moore & Betche *''

Swainsona calcicola ''Swainsona'' is a large genus of flowering plants native to Australasia. There are 85 species, all but one of which are endemic to Australia. A member of the family Fabaceae (legumes), it is most closely related to the New Zealand genera ''Mon ...

'' Joy Thomps. *''

Swainsona campestris ''Swainsona'' is a large genus of flowering plants native to Australasia. There are 85 species, all but one of which are endemic to Australia. A member of the family Fabaceae (legumes), it is most closely related to the New Zealand genera ''Mon ...

'' J.M.Black *''

Swainsona campylantha ''Swainsona'' is a large genus of flowering plants native to Australasia. There are 85 species, all but one of which are endemic to Australia. A member of the family Fabaceae (legumes), it is most closely related to the New Zealand genera ''Mon ...

'' F.Muell. *''

Swainsona canescens ''Swainsona'' is a large genus of flowering plants native to Australasia. There are 85 species, all but one of which are endemic to Australia. A member of the family Fabaceae (legumes), it is most closely related to the New Zealand genera ''Mo ...

'' (Benth.) F.Muell. *''

Swainsona colutoides ''Swainsona'' is a large genus of flowering plants native to Australasia. There are 85 species, all but one of which are endemic to Australia. A member of the family Fabaceae (legumes), it is most closely related to the New Zealand genera ''Mo ...

'' F.Muell. *'' Swainsona complanata'' Joy Thomps. *''

Swainsona concinna ''Swainsona'' is a large genus of flowering plants native to Australasia. There are 85 species, all but one of which are endemic to Australia. A member of the family Fabaceae (legumes), it is most closely related to the New Zealand genera '' M ...

'' F.M.Bailey *''

Swainsona cornuta ''Swainsona'' is a large genus of flowering plants native to Australasia. There are 85 species, all but one of which are endemic to Australia. A member of the family Fabaceae (legumes), it is most closely related to the New Zealand genera ''Mont ...

'' Joy Thomps. *''

Swainsona coronillifolia ''Swainsona'' is a large genus of flowering plants native to Australasia. There are 85 species, all but one of which are endemic to Australia. A member of the family Fabaceae (legumes), it is most closely related to the New Zealand genera '' M ...

'' Salisb. *''

Swainsona cyclocarpa ''Swainsona'' is a large genus of flowering plants native to Australasia. There are 85 species, all but one of which are endemic to Australia. A member of the family Fabaceae (legumes), it is most closely related to the New Zealand genera ''Mo ...

'' F.Muell. *''

Swainsona decurrens ''Swainsona'' is a large genus of flowering plants native to Australasia. There are 85 species, all but one of which are endemic to Australia. A member of the family Fabaceae (legumes), it is most closely related to the New Zealand genera ''Mo ...

*''

Swainsona dictyocarpa ''Swainsona'' is a large genus of flowering plants native to Australasia. There are 85 species, all but one of which are endemic to Australia. A member of the family Fabaceae (legumes), it is most closely related to the New Zealand genera ''Mo ...

'' J.M.Black *''

Swainsona disjuncta ''Swainsona'' is a large genus of flowering plants native to Australasia. There are 85 species, all but one of which are endemic to Australia. A member of the family Fabaceae (legumes), it is most closely related to the New Zealand genera ''Mo ...

'' Joy Thomps. *''

Swainsona ecallosa ''Swainsona'' is a large genus of flowering plants native to Australasia. There are 85 species, all but one of which are endemic to Australia. A member of the family Fabaceae (legumes), it is most closely related to the New Zealand genera ''Mo ...

'' Sprague *''

Swainsona elegans ''Swainsona'' is a large genus of flowering plants native to Australasia. There are 85 species, all but one of which are endemic to Australia. A member of the family Fabaceae (legumes), it is most closely related to the New Zealand genera ''Mont ...

*''

Swainsona elegantoides ''Swainsona'' is a large genus of flowering plants native to Australasia. There are 85 species, all but one of which are endemic to Australia. A member of the family Fabaceae (legumes), it is most closely related to the New Zealand genera ''Mo ...

'' (

) Joy Thomps. *''

Swainsona eremaea ''Swainsona'' is a large genus of flowering plants native to Australasia. There are 85 species, all but one of which are endemic to Australia. A member of the family Fabaceae (legumes), it is most closely related to the New Zealand genera ''Mo ...

'' Joy Thomps. *''

Swainsona extrajacens ''Swainsona'' is a large genus of flowering plants native to Australasia. There are 85 species, all but one of which are endemic to Australia. A member of the family Fabaceae (legumes), it is most closely related to the New Zealand genera ''Mon ...

'' Joy Thomps. *''

Swainsona fissimontana ''Swainsona'' is a large genus of flowering plants native to Australasia. There are 85 species, all but one of which are endemic to Australia. A member of the family Fabaceae (legumes), it is most closely related to the New Zealand genera ''Mont ...

'' J.M.Black *''

Swainsona flavicarinata ''Swainsona'' is a large genus of flowering plants native to Australasia. There are 85 species, all but one of which are endemic to Australia. A member of the family Fabaceae (legumes A legume () is a plant in the family Fabaceae (or Legu ...

'' J.M.Black *''

Swainsona formosa ''Swainsona formosa'', Sturt's desert pea, is an Australian plant in the genus '' Swainsona'', named after English botanist Isaac Swainson, famous for its distinctive blood-red leaf-like flowers, each with a bulbous black centre, or "boss". I ...

'' (G. Don) Joy Thomps. – Sturt's Desert Pea *''

Swainsona forrestii ''Swainsona'' is a large genus of flowering plants native to Australasia. There are 85 species, all but one of which are endemic to Australia. A member of the family Fabaceae The Fabaceae or Leguminosae,A.T.Lee Alma Theodora Lee (née Melvaine; born 12 April 1912, Tingha, died 20 October 1990, Wellington) was an Australian botanist and plant taxonomist who worked at the National Herbarium of New South Wales, University of Sydney, and CSIRO. She is n ...

*''

Swainsona fragilis ''Swainsona'' is a large genus of flowering plants native to Australasia. There are 85 species, all but one of which are endemic to Australia. A member of the family Fabaceae (legumes), it is most closely related to the New Zealand genera ''Mont ...

'' F.M.Bailey *''

Swainsona fraseri ''Swainsona'' is a large genus of flowering plants native to Australasia. There are 85 species, all but one of which are endemic to Australia. A member of the family Fabaceae (legumes), it is most closely related to the New Zealand genera ''Mont ...

'' Benth. *''

Swainsona fuscoviridis ''Swainsona'' is a large genus of flowering plants native to Australasia. There are 85 species, all but one of which are endemic to Australia. A member of the family Fabaceae (legumes), it is most closely related to the New Zealand genera ''Mont ...

'' Joy Thomps. *''

Swainsona galegifolia ''Swainsona galegifolia'' commonly known as smooth Darling pea, is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to Australia. It is a small shrub with greyish-green leaves and flowers in white, red, pink, purple, yellow or ...

'' (Andrews) R.Br. *''

Swainsona gracilis ''Swainsona'' is a large genus of flowering plants native to Australasia. There are 85 species, all but one of which are endemic to Australia. A member of the family Fabaceae (legumes), it is most closely related to the New Zealand genera ''Mont ...

'' Benth. *''

Swainsona greyana ''Swainsona greyana'', commonly known as Darling Pea or Hairy Darling Pea, is a shrubby perennial in the family Fabaceae that is native to Australia. It grows to 1.5 metres high, has hairy stems and pinnate leaves that are 10 to 15 cm lon ...

'' Lindl. *''

Swainsona halophila ''Swainsona'' is a large genus of flowering plants native to Australasia. There are 85 species, all but one of which are endemic to Australia. A member of the family Fabaceae (legumes), it is most closely related to the New Zealand genera ''Mont ...

'' Joy Thomps. *''

Swainsona incei ''Swainsona'' is a large genus of flowering plants native to Australasia. There are 85 species, all but one of which are endemic to Australia. A member of the family Fabaceae (legumes), it is most closely related to the New Zealand genera ''Mon ...

'' W.R.Price *''

Swainsona kingii ''Swainsona'' is a large genus of flowering plants native to Australasia. There are 85 species, all but one of which are endemic to Australia. A member of the family Fabaceae (legumes), it is most closely related to the New Zealand genera ''Mont ...

'' F.Muell. *''

Swainsona lessertiifolia ''Swainsona lessertiifolia'', commonly known as the coast Swainson-pea, is a sprawling, largely coastal, perennial plant, perennial herbaceous plant, herb in the Fabaceae, pea family (biology), family that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. ...

'' DC. *''

Swainsona monticola ''Swainsona monticola'', commonly known as Notched Swainson-pea, is a small perennial plant in the pea family Fabaceae that is native to New South Wales, Australia. The habitat is in elevated areas on woodland or rocky slopes. The lectotype was ...

'' A.Cunn. ex Benth. *'' Swainsona procumbens'' (F.Muell.) F.Muell. *''

Swainsona sejuncta ''Swainsona sejuncta'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae. It has pea-shaped flowers in a variety of colours, pink, cream, orange and mauve from spring to summer and is endemism, endemic to Queensland. Description ''Swainso ...

'' Joy Thomps. *'' Swainsona stenodonta''

References

* {{Taxonbar, from=Q2494626 Flora of Australasia Fabaceae genera