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Sturt's Desert Pea
Swainsona formosa
-22.0756, 113.899
Field Notes
Description:
This is the red centered variety, endemic to the Cape Range National Park area. " The Sturt’s Desert Pea is a blood red flower [typically] with a black centre. It also has a long stalk with up to sixteen leaflets, on a creeping vine that runs across the ground." (http://5bbiology.weebly.com/sturts-desert-pea.html )
Habitat:
In the camping area there was quite a few of these, at Tulki Beach Campsite, Cape Range National Park.
Notes:
Found this really interesting stuff: "In ancient times the range was isolated as an island as rising sea levels inundated lower lying areas. As a result of this geographic isolation, there are some species of plants and animals that are endemic to the area, including the red centred variety of the Sturt Desert Pea. Surveys have recorded over 630 species of flowering plants on the peninsula and within the Cape Range National Park. This is a surprisingly high number for an arid limestone area." (http://www.visitningaloo.com.au/our-region/cape-range-national-park ) It is the floral emblem of the state South Australia.
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