Carmichaelia exsul | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
(unranked): | Angiosperms |
(unranked): | Eudicots |
(unranked): | Rosids |
Order: | Fabales |
Family: | Fabaceae |
Subfamily: | Faboideae |
Tribe: | Galegeae |
Genus: | Carmichaelia |
Species: | C. exsul |
Binomial name | |
Carmichaelia exsul F.Muell. (1871) |
Carmichaelia exsul is a flowering plant in the legume family. The specific epithet means an exile, with reference to it being the only species in its genus native outside New Zealand.
It is a broom-like shrub, growing to 1–3 m in height. The adult shoots are leafless, ridged, flattened, drooping and spreading. The flowers are white with purple markings, sweetly scented and produced in racemose inflorescences. The pale orange, kidney-shaped seeds are 3 mm long.
The plant is endemic to Australia’s subtropical Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea. It is a rare inhabitant of rock ledges in the island’s southern mountains at elevations of over 400 m. The species is listed as endangered in New South Wales.