Sturt's Desert Pea
(Swainsona
Formosa)
from a painting by Miss A.Ashby, M.B.E.
On 23rd November, 1961, the Government adopted Sturt's Desert Pea (Swainsona Formosa) as the Floral Emblem of South Australia.
The plant formerly known as Clianthus dampieri was first collected by William Dampier when he visited the north-western coast of New Holland in the seventeenth century. The specimens he collected are now in the Herbarium at Oxford University. Sturt's Desert Pea is found over a greater range of South Australia than almost any other plant and is probably the most striking and distinctive of all the plants of Inland Australia. The major portion of this State receives less than 381mm of rain per annum and it is in these regions that Sturt's Desert Pea thrives.
Historically the plant is associated with the early explorations of South Australia. Captain Charles Sturt in his "Expedition into Central Australia" describes the finding of this plant in 1845 "towards Coopers Creek". Since that time his name has always been associated with our Floral Emblem. Its distribution covers various parts of the Flinders Ranges, Gawler Ranges, the Lake Eyre and Lake Torrens Basins, DeRose Hill Station, Granite Downs, in the far north, Kingoonya, Yudnapinna, Watson and Ooldea in the far west, and Curnamona and Koonamore east of the Flinders Ranges.
The nearest points to Adelaide that it grows naturally are Burra, and Orroroo. Sturt's Desert Pea is a member of the legume family and because of its habit of growth and distinctive long and curiously shaped flowers it is highly ornamental. The flowers are usually coloured a scarlet or blood red with a central blue-black blotch or "boss" in clusters of up to six or eight which are held erect on a short stem above the plant. Variations in colouring are recorded from pure white to pink and through to purple. Such flowers may or may not possess the black blotch.
The plant is picturesque and most attractive with its soft grey foliage produced on the many prostrate stems often up to 1 - 1.5 metres in length. Flowers are produced every 10 - 15cm along these stems and the plant in flower is beautifully set off by the attractive grey pinnate foliage. Sturt's Desert Pea can be grown readily in a very well draining potting mix or soil mix. The seed should be sown in September or October but because the coating of the seed is impermeable, it should be rubbed between sand-paper or a file or the seed nicked with a knife or soaked in hot water (not boiling) to aid germination. The plant needs a warm well drained position and it should not be disturbed after planting.
The remarkable outline, shape, and startling colour of the flowers and the leaves of Sturt's Desert Pea lend themselves to be easily incorporated into design emblems representing South Australia.
The Floral Emblem can be reproduced without seeking permission from the Protocol Office.
