Slender Darling Pea - profile

Indicative distribution

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Key:

known

predicted

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. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.

Scientific name: Swainsona murrayana

Conservation status in NSW: Vulnerable

Commonwealth status: Vulnerable

Profile last updated: 18 Oct 2022

Description

A sparsely-downy forb with greyish, thin or tapered, stiffly leathery pods. The pea-like flowers are pink or purple with red stripes on densely and darkly hairy slender stalks. It is distinguished by the strongly twisted hypanthium and keel with retracted tip.

Distribution

Found throughout NSW , it has been recorded in the Jerilderie and Deniliquin areas of the southern riverine plain, the Hay plain as far north as Willandra National Park, near Broken Hill and in various localities between Dubbo and Moree.

Habitat and ecology

The species has been collected from clay-based soils, ranging from grey, red and brown cracking clays to red-brown earths and loams.
Grows in a variety of vegetation types including bladder saltbush, black box and grassland communities on level plains, floodplains and depressions and is often found with Maireana species. Plants have been found in remnant native grasslands or grassy woodlands that have been intermittently grazed or cultivated.
Plants produce winter-spring growth, flower in spring to early summer and then die back after flowering. They re-shoot readily and often carpet the landscape after good cool-season rains.
The species may require some disturbance and has been known to occur in paddocks that have been moderately grazed or occasionally cultivated.
Swainsona species contain a poisoning principle, swainsonine, which affects the nervous system and is toxic to stock.

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.

Threats

Insufficient knowledge of the distribution of the species and abundance/ population size
Insufficient understanding of taxonomy
Insufficient understanding of threats
Increased salinisation, which affects the suitability of habitat.
Frequent fires may directly affect plants or alter the habitat in which it grows.
Rabbits and other herbivorous pest species may contribute to the total grazing pressure on this species.
Urban developments and the expansion of townships into surrounding grasslands has the potential to result in the loss of, or impact on, plants and their habitat.
Heavy grazing by domestic stock, since the species is heavily grazed at most growth stages and is regarded as a useful forage plant (although this may be harmful to stock due to its poisoning effect). Heavy grazing in the flowering and fruiting season in particular, may influence the soil seed bank and hence future abundance of the species on travelling stock reserves and adjoining paddocks.
Loss of grassland habitat to cultivation, either for pasture improvement or crops, particularly rice crops.
Invasion of grassland habitat by weeds due to ploughing or heavy grazing of paddocks.

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

Control of herbivorous pest species such as rabbits and goats.
Where developments are proposed in areas of suitable habitat, surveys for the species must be conducted during the flowering season.
There should be no loss of Swainsona murrayana plants due to developments.
Where grazing has been occurring in suitable habitat, ensure that it is light, intermittent grazing as opposed to heavy grazing.
Further research is required into the ecology and impacts of disturbances on the species.

Information sources

Benson, J.S., Ashby, E.M. and Porteners, M.F. (1996) The native grasslands of the southern Riverina, New South Wales. Report to the Australian Nature Conservation Agency. (Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney)
Harden, G.J. (ed.) (2002) Flora of New South Wales. Volume 2, Revised Edition. UNSW, Sydney.
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2003) Threatened Plants in Western New South Wales. Information Review. Profiles H-Z. NPWS Dubbo.

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

Brigalow Belt South	Liverpool Plains	Known	None
Brigalow Belt South	Moonie-Barwon Interfluve	Predicted	None
Brigalow Belt South	Narrandool	Predicted	None
Brigalow Belt South	Northern Basalts	Known	None
Brigalow Belt South	Northern Outwash	Known	None
Brigalow Belt South	Pilliga	Known	None
Brigalow Belt South	Pilliga Outwash	Predicted	None
Broken Hill Complex	Barrier Range	Known	None
Broken Hill Complex	Barrier Range Outwash	Known	None
Broken Hill Complex	Mootwingee Downs	Predicted	None
Broken Hill Complex	Scopes Range	Predicted	None
Cobar Peneplain	Canbelego Downs	Predicted	None
Cobar Peneplain	Lachlan Plains	Predicted	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Bogan-Macquarie	Predicted	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Castlereagh-Barwon	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Culgoa-Bokhara	Predicted	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Louth Plains	Predicted	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Menindee	Predicted	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Warrambool-Moonie	Predicted	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Wilcannia Plains	Known	None
Mulga Lands	Cuttaburra-Paroo	Known	None
Mulga Lands	Kerribree Basin	Predicted	None
Mulga Lands	Nebine Plains	Predicted	None
Mulga Lands	Paroo Overflow	Predicted	None
Mulga Lands	Paroo-Darling Sands	Predicted	None
Mulga Lands	Warrego Plains	Predicted	None
Mulga Lands	Warrego Sands	Predicted	None
Mulga Lands	West Warrego	Known	None
Mulga Lands	White Cliffs Plateau	Known	None
Murray Darling Depression	Darling Depression	Predicted	None
NSW South Western Slopes	Lower Slopes	Known	None
Other State	SA	Known	None
Riverina	Lachlan	Known	None
Riverina	Murray Fans	Known	Hay Plain
Riverina	Murrumbidgee	Known	None

Images

Slender Darling Pea, David Parker Image 1 of 6.
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