Author Koh Lin ◦
The Sturt’s Desert Pea (also known as Sturt Desert Pea) is a well known and iconic native Australian flora, recognised for its its red keel and wings, and the black boss. Whilst the red and black are the typical colours of this flower, the Sturt Desert Pea can also be found in nature with other colour variations — from shades of pink to cream-white. The “boss” can also range in colour, from black, to shades of brown, dark red, scarlet, pink and cream-white.
The beauty of mother nature in her variable colour forms…
Some notes on the botanical terms:
- Boss — the rounded protusion at the base of the standard on Swainsona formosa.
- formosa — from the Latin formosus – “beautiful“.
- Keel — the two fused petals enclosing the stamens, in a “pea” flower.
- Standard — the large upper petal of a “pea” flower.
- Swainsona — named after Isaac Swainson, a scientist and plant collector.
- Wings — the petals at either side of the keel.
Check out more information on the Sturt’s Desert Pea (Swainsona formosa):
- Sturt’s Desert Pea
- Sturt’s Desert Pea, northern
- Sturt’s Desert Pea, pink
- Sturt’s Desert Pea, white
- Sturt’s Desert Pea – Alice Springs Flora
