''Cullen australasicum,'' commonly known as tall scurf-pea or native scurf pea is a herbaceous, perennial shrub that is native to Australia. Cullen australasicum Flowers

Chequered swallowtail butterfly laying eggs on Cullen australasicum

Description

''Cullen australasicum'' can grow to a height of 2.5 metres and a width up to 1.5 m. Stems can become woody at the base. The toothed rough leaves are trifoliate, with leaflets mostly 1-5cm long and 1-3cm wide. The small lilac pea-flowers are in groups of three, and held on long spikes well above the leaves. The seeds are light brown and egg-shaped.

Distribution and habitat

It predominantly occurs in the arid zone of Australia in low rainfall environments, and can be found in all mainland states and territories. Favoured habitats include rocky gorges, woodland, grassland, dry creek lines and depressions. It is critically endangered in

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada * Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory * Victoria, Seychelle ...

Ecology

''Cullen australasicum'' is a larval food plant of the Chequered swallowtail butterfly, Long-tailed Pea-blue, Common Grass-blue,

Cotton Bollworm Cotton bollworm is a problem in growing cotton. "A major pest in hot countries of irrigated crops. Enters into a summer diapause when irrigated crops are not present and the soil and air temperatures are high. When the end of the dry season comes, t ...

and

Native Budworm ''Helicoverpa punctigera'', the native budworm, Australian bollworm or ''Chloridea marmada'', is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae. This species is native to Australia. ''H. punctigera'' are capable of long distance migration from their ...

. It is also a popular food of

kangaroos Kangaroos are four marsupials from the family Macropodidae (macropods, meaning "large foot"). In common use the term is used to describe the largest species from this family, the red kangaroo, as well as the antilopine kangaroo, eastern gre ...

Cultivation

Some stockists in South Australia have ''Cullen australasicum'' available to buy for the home garden. Light pruning is recommended to maintain a compact form and to prevent the more common straggly appearance of naturally occurring plants. There are no cultivars currently available.

References

Psoraleeae {{Faboideae-stub