Peas
There are over 12,000 pea species across the globe including herbs, shrubs, climbers and trees. They are good colonisers of bare areas assisted by their ability to trap nitrogen from the air and increase soil fertility. Many of the native species are dispersed by ants and will flourish after fire.
The native herbs and smaller shrubs are vulnerable to live-stock grazing and mainly occur in areas where grazing has been excluded or intermittent, such as within some Travelling Stock Reserves.
Although relatively few in number woody introduced peas, such as brooms, Gorse or Tree Lucerne are significant weeds. Exotic woody peas are a poor planting choice, as they are likely to stray far beyond the garden path.
All flowers of this family have the “sweet pea” butterfly shape, comprised of five often brightly coloured petals: the large upright standard at the back, two small lateral wings and the lower keel of two petals that are mostly fused.
Pea plants are generally distinguished from each other by their form (herb, shrub etc), their leaf characteristics, the colour of their flowers and the size and shape of their seed pods. Ideally postings of pea plants will include photographs that encapsulate all these features.
Photographs should show whether leaves are a single blade, or if not the number of leaflets of which they are composed. Photographs should also try and capture the pair of stipules or appendages that may occur at the base of the leaf stem. They can be leaf-like, membranous or spine like.
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Unidentified Pea
Between *Crotalaria medicaginea* and *Crotalaria goreensis*, *Crotalaria medicaginea* is more likely to be found in Paluma Range National Park.
### *Crotalaria medicaginea*:
- This species is more commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions, which aligns with the environmental conditions of Paluma Range National Park. It prefers well-drained soils in areas such as open woodlands, grasslands, and along the edges of forests. Given the tropical climate of Paluma Range, this species is a better fit for the area.
### *Crotalaria goreensis*:
- *Crotalaria goreensis* is typically found in Africa and is less likely to be encountered in Australia, particularly in Paluma Range National Park. It’s not commonly reported in the Australian flora and is therefore much less likely to be present in the park.
Given the habitat and regional preferences, *Crotalaria medicaginea* would be the species you are more likely to encounter in the Paluma Range National Park.
Unidentified Pea
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