Lysiphyllum cunninghamii

Lysiphyllum cunninghamii
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae
Tribe: Cercideae
Genus: Lysiphyllum
Species: L. cunninghamii
Binomial name
Lysiphyllum cunninghamii
(Benth.) de Wit
Synonyms
  • Bauhinia cunninghamii (Benth.) Benth.

Lysiphyllum cunninghamii, commonly known as the Kimberley Bauhinia or Jigal Tree, is a species of plant in the Fabaceae family. It is native to northern Australia where it occurs from Western Australia through the Northern Territory to Queensland.[1]

Description

It grows as a shrub or tree up to 12 m (occasionally up to 18 m) in height with grey fissured or tessellated bark. It produces bright red flowers from April to October, followed by large, reddish-brown seed pods from November to January. The nectar produced by the flowers attracts honeyeaters and native bees.[1][2]

Distribution and habitat

It occurs on red alluvial sandy and loamy soils, often in watercourses and on levees, flood plains, pindan and the margins of monsoonal forests. It is found in the Central Kimberley, Dampierland, Gascoyne, Great Sandy Desert, Northern Kimberley, Ord Victoria Plain, Pilbara and Victoria Bonaparte, Katherine Region, IBRA bioregions.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Bauhinia cunninghamii". FloraBase. Department of Environment and Conservation, Government of Western Australia.
  2. Kane, Brian. "The Jigal Tree". Bush Trees and Fruits of Broome. naturebase.net. Retrieved 2014-06-15.


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