Kennedia Vent. (1804) in the family Leguminosae subfamily Papilionoideae, contains around 16 species, mainly in Australia. Description Climbers to 3m or more, often woody at the base, or creepers. The leaves are alternate, evergreen, of usually 3 leathery leaflets, rarely 1 or 5, often with conspicuous stipules. The flowers are pea-like, in pairs or in elongated bunches in the leaf axils, red, black-and-yellow, purple, or pink. Sepals 5, unequal, joined to form a toothed calyx. Petals 5, unequal, the standard with yellow spots at the base, the 2 outer wings, the 2 lowest forming a short or long keel that encloses the stamens, style, and ovary. Stamens 10, of which 9 have their filaments joined and 1 is free. Ovary superior, with 1 carpel containing several ovules; style 1. Pollination is by birds and bees. The pods are oblong, leathery, flattened, with several seeds. Key Recognition Features The few, leathery, lanceolate to ovate leaflets and purple flowers.
Evolution and Relationships Species of the Leguminosae are particularly diverse and beautiful in Western Australia, and are mainly shrubs; the tribe Phaseoleae, which includes French and runner beans (Phaseolus L.), and to which Kennedia belongs, is one of the few climbers. Ecology and Geography In jarrah forests (Eucalyptus marginata) and rocky places; 11 species in Western Australia, including the black-flowered K. nigricans Lindl.; K. coccinea Vent. in the rest of Australia and Tasmania; 1 species in New Guinea. Comment The genus is named after Lewis Kennedy (1775–1818), a founder of Lee and Kennedy, nurserymen of Hammersmith, who introduced many new Australian plants into cultivation in Europe. Kennedias are beautiful and easily grown climbers with flowers in a variety of striking colours; many can survive a little frost. |
