Indigofera linifolia (L.f.) Retz. APNI* 
Description: Prostrate or spreading, perennial herb, 0.1–0.3(–0.5) m high, with taproot; young stems ridged, green, strigose with dense, appressed, equally biramous hairs.
Leaves simple, with no apparent articulation; stipules triangular, 1–3 mm long, pubescent, not persistent; petiole 0.5–1 mm long. Lamina linear or narrowly lanceolate to narrowly oblanceolate, mostly10–35 mm long, 1–3 mm wide; both surfaces green to grey-green, with moderately dense or dense hairs; apex acute and shortly mucronate; veins not prominent.
Inflorescences shorter than leaves, usually to15 mm long; flowers red. Calyx with subequal lobes longer than the length of the tube, with dense, grey, appressed hairs. Petals red. Ovary densely hairy.
Pod globular, 2–3 mm long, 1-seeeded, covered with white or grey appressed hairs; apex shortly beaked; endocarp usually not spotted.
Distribution and occurrence: Widespread in warmer parts of Australia. In New South Wales, restricted to northern parts of the state. Found in a wide range of habitats: on sand or rocky ridges in open woodland or grassland, but also often found as a pioneer species on disturbed sites and roadsides.
NSW subdivisions: NC, NWS, NWP
Other Australian states: Qld W.A. S.A. N.T.
The species has a wide distribution outside Australia. It is found in north-eastern Africa, through southern Asia to southern China, Ryukyu and Taiwan, and south through Thailand to Malesia.
Text by Peter G. Wilson
Taxon concept: Wilson & Rowe, Telopea 10(3): 2004.
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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