Swainsona

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Swainsona (family Leguminosae, subfamily Papilionatae) A genus of herbs and small shrubs that are either glabrous or with close-lying hairs. The leaves are alternate and narrowly pinnate with many leaflets, often with stipules, which are usually broad at the base. The flowers are in axillary racemes, and are usually violet, purple, or red. The calyx tube has teeth of unequal length, and the petals are held in a butterfly shape. The upper stamen is free; the remaining 9 are fused together. The superior ovary contains numerous ovules. The pod is ovoid or oblong, and often turgid. There are about 50 species, all endemic (see ENDEMISM) to Australia and New Zealand.

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