Medicago arborea L.

Erect, perennial shrub; stems densely sericeous. Lvs densely sericeous on petiole and undersurface of leaflets, almost glabrous above; petioles c. 5–25 mm long; leaflets obovate or obtriangular, acute or obtuse to slightly emarginate, usually mucronate, obtuse to cuneate at base, ± entire or irregularly serrate near apex, uniform in colour, c. 8–25 mm long; terminal petiolule (2)–3–6 mm long; lateral petiolules c. 1 mm long; stipules triangular, acuminate, entire. Infl. 4–10–(12)-flowered; peduncles densely sericeous, > petioles; pedicels > calyx tube. Calyx hairy; calyx teeth narrowly triangular, < or ± = tube. Corolla yellow to golden or orange, 10–15 mm long. Pod moderately hairy but becoming ± glabrous when mature, coiled in 1–11/2 turns with a hole through the centre, reticulately veined but otherwise smooth, 10–15 mm diam., few-seeded; seeds brown, c. 4–5 mm long.

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

Flowering: Aug.–Nov.