Plant of the day is: Urodon dasyphyllus or mop bushpea
For a plant so spectacular looking, I get a little cranky when I can't find any good creative commons licensing. It is fantastic looking plant and one to look out for, if you're ever in Australia.
This picture hardly does it justice...but it's a good start
So right off the bat I have to reference another amazing plant blog I came across researching this plant yesterday morning. For the due credit he deserves for capturing some amazing photos, you'll just have to leave my blog for a second.
I will certainly be in contact with William Archer about his amazing work to be sure. Fantastic photography and descriptions of plants in the Esperance area of south western Australia. Well done sir! Well done! I know how much time that takes :).
Not even really sure how I came across this plant but I was killing some time before breakfast at Spencer's (you really must try it). Spencer's Grill in Kirkwood
For a great map detailing the range of Urodon dasyphyllus here is another link (they get cranky about pulling images or I'd just plop it down here). http://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/9008
Getting down to it, it is a member of the Fabaceae (pea/bean) family and belongs to a very small genus. Aside from U. dasyphyllus there is only one other member of the genus A. capitatus. A few more fun facts to be found at Esperance Wildflowers that I'm not going to repeat. It is a prostrate shrub around 1-1.5 feet tall depending on its location/moisture availability. Likes very dry sandy/gravely soils. Leaves are grey-green (typical of plants in hot/dry environments) and flowers are terminal (at the end of stems). It has previously been included in the genus Pultenaea but it lacks the stipules of other members of the genus. It can be upright, but the stems/branches (unsure how woody this is) will lay down flat on the ground or on something else when they get larger.
Unfortunately that is about all I can get you. After about 20 minutes of trying to hunt for a really solid botanical description I've come up with bupkis. If anyone runs across one, please let me know, I'd love to read it. Honestly I'm very surprised that so little information is out there for such a striking and interesting plant. I was immediately drawn to it as soon as I saw it. Someday I hope to meet it in person.
Another good reference site: http://bie.ala.org.au/species/urn:lsid:biodiversity.org.au:apni.taxon:695433#
Enjoy!
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