Beyeria bush-pea

Scientific name: Pultenaea insularis

National status (EPBC Act 1999): Critically endangered

South Australian status: (NPW Act 1972): Endangered

Description:

Prostrate spreading shrub to 50 cm high, rooting at nodes, with fine wiry branches. Elliptical recurved green to very dark-green leaves, to 6 mm long and 3 mm wide. Solitary yellow pea-flowers to 5 mm long mainly towards the apex of branches. Flowering between October and December.

Distribution:

Endemic to Kangaroo Island. Mainly found in the Haines-MacGillivray region growing on sandy-clay soil amongst Kangaroo Island narrow-leaved mallee (Eucalyptus cneorifolia) and coastal white mallee Eucalyptus diversifolia ssp. diversifolia mallee woodland.

Specific threats:

Weed invasion (principally from bridal veil Asparagus declinatus), disturbance and vegetation clearance (damage to roots results in dieback), over-browsing by macropods (kangaroos and wallabies), inappropriate fire regimes (lack of fire) and a small population size all contribute to the decline of Pultenaea insularis.