Common name: Spinifex Pea
Muelleranthus trifoliatus (F.Muell.) Hutch. ex A.T.Lee APNI* 
Description: Prostrate herb with ± reddish stems ≤ 50 cm long, entire plant glabrous or sparsely hairy.
Leaves palmately 3-foliolate; leaflets obcordate, 2–8 mm long, ± emarginate at apex; stipules broad- to narrow-ovate.
Inflorescence 1–3-flowered; peduncle ≤ 5 cm long, slender; flowers mostly 7–12 mm long; pedicel c. 3.5 mm long; bracts and bracteoles as in M. stipularis. Standard 9–14 mm wide, yellow or orange with some purple; wings smaller, similar in colour; keel obtuse, ± circular, dark purplish.
Pods narrow-oblong, 13–29 mm long, often with reddish flecks; seeds globose, mottled with pale reddish areas and black.
Flowering: Flowers late spring to autumn.
Distribution and occurrence: Grows on sandy soils, often near creeks, swamps and waterholes; recorded north of Cobar, rare.
NSW subdivisions: NWP
Other Australian states: Qld W.A. N.T.
Text by T. A. James
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 2 (1991)
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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