Indicative distribution
The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas.
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click here to see geographic restrictions).
The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.
Scientific name: Crotalaria cunninghamii
Profile last updated:
01 Nov 2022
Description
Perennial shrub or subshrub, 1-2 m high, with stout velvety stems. Leaves large, soft and woolly on both surfaces. Flowers large and showy, clustered, yellowish green and streaked with purple, pea-like, resembling birds attached by the beak to the central stalk of the flowerhead. Pods club-shaped, swollen, hard and velvety.
Distribution
Recorded only from the Milparinka and Hungerford districts in the NSW far north-western plains, where it is quite rare. Also distributed in Qld, the NT, SA and WA.
Habitat and ecology
- Green Bird Flower is usually found in Mulga communities or on unstable sand dunes, particularly on the dune crests.
- Other habitats throughout its range include stabilised red sand dunes and ridges with deep soils, stony hills, sand in rock crevices, seaside dunes with spinifex, a disturbed vine thicket, river banks in heavy loam soil, dry sandy creek beds and riparian woodland.
- Flowers irregularly, and flowering time is probably rainfall-related. In western NSW it flowers from winter to spring and sometimes in autumn.
- Seedlings have been observed in some interstate populations, as well as regrowth from dead plants.
- Plant abundance at sites ranges from rare and infrequent to very common and abundant. Heavy growth was reported at one site
Regional distribution and habitat
Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.
Threats
- Habitat degradation (sites with deep sandy soils are susceptible to erosion by rabbits).
- Grazing (possibly by stock in some areas but may not be a threat; grazed by goats in central Australia).
Recovery strategies
A Saving Our Species conservation project is currently being developed for this species and will be available soon. For information on how you can contribute to this species' recovery, see the Activities to assist this species section below.
Activities to assist this species
- Protection of populations from rabbits.
- Monitoring of grazing impacts on plants.
- Survey for new populations
Information sources
- Bentham, G. (1863) Flora Australiensis. Volume 2 (1864). (Reeve, London)
- Cunningham, G.M., Mulham, W.E., Milthorpe, P.L. and Leigh, J.H. (1992) Plants of Western New South Wales. (Inkata Press, Sydney)
- Gardner, C. and Harden, G.J. (2002) Crotalaria. Pp 497-503 in Harden, G.J. (ed.) Flora of New South Wales. Volume 2. Revised Edition (New South Wales University Press, Sydney)
- Hooker, W.J. (1852) Crotalaria cunninghamii R. Br. Icones Plantarum 5: t. 829.
- Jessop, J.P. (1981) Flora of Central Australia. (Australian Systematic Botany Society, Sydney)
- Jessop, J.P. and Toelken, H.R. (eds.) (1986) Flora of South Australia. Part ll. (South Australian Government Printing Division, Adelaide)
- Porteners, M. and Robertson, G. (2003) Threatened Plants in Western New South Wales: Information Review. (NSW NPWS, Hurstville)
- Pressey, R.L., Cohn, J.S. and Porter, J.L. (1990) Vascular plants with restricted distributions in the Western Division of New South Wales. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 112: 213-227
- Sturt, C. (1849) Expedition into Central Australia 2 (Jan.-Feb. 1849) Bot. App. 71.
- Wheeler, J.R. (ed.) (1992) Flora of the Kimberley Region. (Western Australian Herbarium, Department of Conservation and Land Management, Perth)
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