Variable Bossiaea

Bossiaea heterophylla is a shrub that typically grows to a height of up to about 3 m (9.8 ft) and has flattened, glaucous, more or less glabrous branches 1–3 mm (0.039–0.118 in) wide. The leaves are arranged in two rows along the stems, variably-shaped, linear to broadly egg-shaped, 10–30 mm (0.39–1.18 in) long and 1.5–12 mm (0.059–0.472 in) wide with triangular stipules up to 1 mm (0.039 in) long at the base. The flowers are 7–15 mm (0.28–0.59 in) long and arranged singly along the branches, each flower on a pedicel up to 5 mm (0.20 in) long with a few bracts up to 1.5 mm (0.059 in) long. The sepals are 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) long with bracteoles up to 1.5 mm (0.059 in) long on the pedicel. The standard petal is yellow-orange with a red back and up to 15 mm (0.59 in) long, the wings 1.5–2.5 mm (0.059–0.098 in) wide and yellow sometimes flushed with pink and the keel is 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) wide and dark red. Flowering occurs from April to June and the fruit is a flat pod 20–40 mm (0.79–1.57 in) long.

Variable bossiaea grows in a variety of habitats, usually in sandy soils and occurs on the coast and nearby tablelands south from Bundaberg in Queensland, through New South Wales to Victoria as far west as Rosedale. It also occurs in two small populations in northern Tasmania.