Why is the Sturt Desert Pea important?
Why is the Sturt Desert Pea important?
Sturt’s desert pea is famous for its distinctive slender-tipped red flower. Although the floral emblem for South Australia, this easily-recognised wildflower is found throughout inland arid zones of Australia. Sturt’s desert pea is part of the genus swainsona, named after English botanist Isaac Swainson.
How do Sturt’s Desert Pea survive in the desert?
The Sturt’s Desert Pea’s behavioural adaptations are: the seeds have longer sustainability, also they can grow after several. years The seeds have a hard covering which protects them from severe arid conditions until next rainfall. There is one threat to it’s survival which is hot weather conditions.
What does a Sturt’s Desert Pea look like?
In its natural habitat Sturt’s Desert Pea is a perennial plant with silky grey-green pinnate foliage arising from prostrate stems. The leaves and stems are covered with downy hairs. The flowers are about 9 cm long and arranged in clusters of six to eight on short, thick, erect stalks.
What is the scientific name for Sturt Desert Pea?
Swainsona formosa
Swainsona formosa/Scientific names
Can you propagate Sturt desert pea?
The Sturt’s Desert Pea is most commonly propagated through seed, although cuttings and micropropagation are also possible. Seeds need to be scarified before sowing to allow imbibition of water to occur.
Are Sturt desert Peas protected?
Sturt’s desert pea is not endangered, but it is illegal to collect specimens of the plant from Crown land without a permit.
What does a Sturt’s desert pea eat?
Australian Aborigines eat the roasted seeds, or make cakes by grinding the seeds and then baking them. However, the seeds contain trypsin inhibitors. Trypsin is an essential enzyme which breaks down proteins during digestion, so these seeds may not be ideal for eating. The desert pea makes a great cut flower.
Who discovered Sturt Desert Pea?
William Dampier
Apart from its role as the state flower of South Australia, Sturt’s Desert Pea is highly sought after as a cut flower plant. Having had a long botanical history since its discovery in 1699 by William Dampier, Sturt’s Desert Pea has undergone a number of botanical name changes.
Where is the Sturt Desert?
South Australia
The Sturt Stony Desert covers 40,000 square kilometres of land in South Australia and Queensland between the Simpson and Strzelecki deserts.
How long do Sturt Desert Pea flowers last?
It is usually treated as an annual, and should flower 4 months after sowing from seed. It was formerly known as Clianthus formosus, and is a protected plant in South Australia….Swainsona formosa – Sturt’s Desert Pea.
| Family: | Fabaceae |
|---|---|
| Height: | 0.5 ~ 2 metres |
| Width: | 1 ~ 3 metre |
| Flower Colour: | Cream, Red, Pink, Black |
| Flowering Time: | Spring, Summer |
Are Sturt Desert Peas hard to grow?
The Sturt’s Desert pea is a well-known Australian native flower that is the state floral emblem for South Australia. Although much admired these plants are notoriously hard to grow outside their natural desert environment as they are prone to fungal diseases and root rots.
What should you not do when growing Sturt Desert Peas?
Here are some things to avoid:
- Compost, worm castings, manure and clayey soils are too heavy for Sturt Desert Pea. They prefer free draining, loose, sandy soil.
- Shady positions. They need sunny, hot environments.
- Over crowding with other plants.
- Over fertilising will cause ‘toxic shock’ from too much phosphorus.
What kind of plant is Sturt’s Desert Pea?
Apart from its role as the state flower of South Australia, Sturt’s Desert Pea is highly sought after as a cut flower plant. Having had a long botanical history since its discovery in 1699 by William Dampier, Sturt’s Desert Pea has undergone a number of botanical name changes.
When did sturt’s desert pea become the emblem of South Australia?
Sturt’s desert pea (described as Clianthus formosus) was adopted as the floral emblem of the state of South Australia on 23 November 1961.
Where can I get sturt’s desert pea grafted?
Hint: When buying a grafted Sturt’s Desert pea, ask for a set of cultural notes which are provided by the grower, Bushgraft Native Nursery, Victoria. For more information on growing Sturt’s Desert pea contact your nearest specialist native plant nursery or the Society for Growing Australian Plants (SGAP).
When did Charles Sturt’s Desert Pea appear on postage stamps?
Sturt’s Desert Pea has appeared in several releases of Australian postage stamps depicting Australian floral emblems (issued in 1968, 1971 and 2005). The flower also features on the logo of Charles Sturt University, which is also named after the explorer.