Kingdom Plantae Family Fabaceae Tribe Phaseoleae Scientific name Kennedia coccinea Rank Species | Order Fabales Subfamily Faboideae Genus Kennedia Higher classification Kennedia | |
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Similar Kennedia, Kennedia prostrata, Legumes, Kennedia nigricans, Kennedia rubicunda | ||
Kennedia coccinea (coral vine) is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a low growing trailing shrub or climber which has twining rust-coloured branchlets with rounded leaflets that are about 1.5 cm long and occur in threes. Orange red or scarlet pea flowers are produced in clusters between August and November in its native range.
The species was formally described in 1804 by French botanist Étienne Pierre Ventenat in Jardin de la Malmaison. Two varieties were described in Paxton's Magazine of Botany in 1835, namely var. elegans and var. coccinea. Three further varieties were transferred from the genus Zichya in 1923 by Czech botanist Karel Domin, namely var. molly, var. sericea and var. villosa. Currently, three subspecies are recognised:
Cultivation
The species is naturally adapted to sandy or lighter soils and prefers some shade. It is resistant to drought and has some frost tolerance. Plants can be propagated by scarified seed or cuttings of semi-mature growth.