Hedysarum coronarium L.

Scrambling or ± erect perennial herb; stem ribbed, almost glabrous to densely clothed in appressed hairs. Lvs almost glabrous or moderately clothed in appressed hairs below; stipules triangular, acuminate, sometimes with a basal lobe; leaflets subsessile, elliptic to obovate, obtuse, usually shortly mucronate, in 3–5 ± opposite pairs, 15–35–(45) mm long. Infl. racemose, = or > lvs, many-flowered; bracts subtending pedicels ovate to lanceolate, 3–8 mm long; pedicels c. 2 mm long. Calyx sparsely to moderately hairy; calyx teeth = or > tube, narrowly triangular, acuminate. Corolla crimson, 12–18 mm long. Pod 5–15 mm long, with 1–4, glabrous, densely spinous segments; seeds smooth, brown.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Nov.–Feb.