Swainsona
| Swainsona | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Swainsona villosa | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Tribe: | Galegeae |
| Subtribe: | Astragalinae |
| Genus: |
Swainsona Salisb. |
| Species | |
|
See text. |
|
| Synonyms | |
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|
See text.
Swainsona is a large genus of flowering plants native to Australasia. There are 85 species, all but one of which is endemic to Australia; the exception, S. novae-zelandiae, occurs only in New Zealand.
A member of the family Fabaceae (legumes), it is most closely related to the New Zealand genera Montigena (scree pea), Clianthus (kakabeak), and Carmichaelia (New Zealand broom).
Swainsona is named after English botanist Isaac Swainson.
A few species are known to produce swainsonine, a phytotoxin harmful to (see Locoweed). In Australia, animals intoxicated with swainsonine are said to be pea struck.
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