Kennedia rubicunda


Kennedia rubicunda, commonly known as the dusky coral pea, is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, endemic to Australia. It occurs in the states of Victoria and New South Wales and Queensland.
It is a vigorous climber with stems up to in length and has oval-shaped leaflets in threes that are about long. Dark red pea flowers are produced in racemes from late winter to spring and are followed by pods, which are oblong long and wide, rusty and hairy, with 10–15 seeds to a pod.
The species was first published in 1793 by Dutch botanist George Voorhelm Schneevoogt under the later rejected name of Glycine rubicunda in Icones Plantarum Rariorum. In 1804 it was published under its current name by French botanist Étienne Pierre Ventenat in Jardin de la Malmaison.
It is killed by bushfire and regenerates from seed dormant in the soil.

Cultivation

This plant is noted for its vigour and can be used to cover embankments or structures.
The species is adapted to a range of well-drained soils and adapts to positions with sun or partial shade. It is resistant to drought and has some frost tolerance. The species can be propagated by scarified seed or cuttings of semi-mature growth.

Weed status

It is an introduced species in India, Tasmania and the north island of New Zealand