Hardenbergia violacea

Family Fabaceae

False Sarsaparilla

Twiner but also includes prostrate or erect forms. Longevity 5 - 25 years.

Flowers: Purple, pea flowers, September – November.

Fruit: Pod oblong 20 – 45 mm long, with 6 – 8 seeds.

Seed: 5 x 3 x 2.5 mm in size. Locally dispersed with ant-adapted food body. Seeds hard-coated with physical dormancy. Germinate readily once scarified by nicking.

Gallery images: seed, seedling, rootstock, resprout

Ecology

• Woodland habitat, in light shade to full sun.
• Rare in woodland at the Australian Botanic Garden.
• Resprouts at base after fire.
• Legumes reported to have nitrogen-fixing Rhizobium nodules on roots.