Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Tribe: Phaseoleae
Genus: Kennedia
Species: K. rubicunda
Binomial name: Kennedia rubicunda
Synonyms: Glycine rubicunda
Common names: Dusky coral pea, Coral pea, Red Kennedy pea, Red Kennedy, Red Coral.
Kennedia rubicunda is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae. It is native to the coastal and sub-coastal districts of eastern Australia. In Australia, it is classed as an environmental weed in Tasmania and those parts of Victoria that are outside its native range. In New Zealand, it is been banned after it was listed as invasive species. It is now illegal under the Biosecurity Act to propagate, distribute or sell this plant - either casually or through nurseries - but existing plants are still allowed on private properties.
This vine is capable of forming dense mats that suppress growth and replaces native species by shading and smothering.
Kennedia rubicunda is a large, vigorous, evergreen, climbing vine with spreading or twining, rusty coloured stems that can be up to 4 metres in length. It has oval-shaped leaflets up to 16 centimetres long and a maximum of six centimetres wide, with either a rounded or pointed apex. They are in groups of three alternately spaced on the stem.
The large, burnt-orange flowers are pea-shaped, up to four centimetres long by two centimetres wide, and are held in axillary clusters. They are produced from late winter to spring (peaking from October to December) and are followed by hairy, pea-like, flattened seed pods that are 50-100mm long that contain a number of hard-coated seeds. The seeds are spread by birds, water and gravity. Any portion of the vine which touches the ground will grow roots, making it a difficult plant to control.
Kennedia rubicunda hard to tell apart from other weeds in the Fabaceae family unless it is flowering.
Leaves with a rounded apex, others can have a pointed apex.
Thanks to Wikipedia for text and information: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0
