{{Short description|Species of legume}} {{use dmy dates|date=July 2020}} {{Speciesbox |image = Bossiaea rufa.jpg |image_caption = |status_system = |status = |genus = Bossiaea |species = rufa |authority = R.Br.<ref name=APC>{{cite web|title=''Bossiaea rufa''|url= https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/apc-format/display/62839|publisher=Australian Plant Census|access-date=28 August 2021}}</ref> |range_map = BossiaearufaDistMap62.png |range_map_caption = Range map generated from data at Australasian Virtual Herbarium }}
'''''Bossiaea rufa''''' is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a loose, many-branched shrub with elliptic to egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, and deep yellow and red flowers.
==Description== ''Bossiaea rufa'' is a loose, many-branched shrub that typically grows to a height of up to {{cvt|2|m}} when supported by surrounding vegetation. The stems are flattened and winged, up to {{cvt|10|mm}} wide and are sometimes leafless. The leaves, when present, are elliptic to egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, mostly {{cvt|7–15|mm}} long and {{cvt|5–8|mm}} wide on a petiole {{cvt|1.5–4.5|mm}} long with egg-shaped stipules {{cvt|1–3|mm}} long at the base. The flowers are arranged singly or in pairs in leaf axils on pedicels {{cvt|5–10|mm}} long, with egg-shaped bracts {{cvt|1–2|mm}} long at the base. The five sepals are {{cvt|5.7–6|mm}} long and joined at the base, forming a tube {{cvt|2.0–3.6|mm}} long, the two upper lobes {{cvt|3.7–5.2|mm}} long and the lower lobes {{cvt|1.2–1.8|mm}} long. The standard petal is deep yellow with a purplish-red base and {{cvt|9.5–12.2|mm}} long, the wings reddish and {{cvt|8.1–8.9|mm}} long, and the keel reddish and {{cvt|7.2–7.5|mm}} long. Flowering occurs from September to January and the fruit is an oblong pod {{cvt|25–38|mm}} long.<ref name=FloraBase>{{FloraBase|name=''Bossiaea rufa''|id=3718}}</ref><ref name="Muelleria">{{cite journal |last1=Ross |first1=James H. |title=A conspectus of the Western Australian ''Bossiaea'' species (Bossiaeeae: Fabaceae). Muelleria 23 |journal=Muelleria |date=2006 |volume=11 |pages=108–110 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/278250#page/110/mode/1up |access-date=28 August 2021}}</ref><ref name="J.H.Ross">{{cite journal |last1=Ross |first1=James H. |title=Notes on Western Australian ''Bossiaea'' species (Fabaceae): 2. |journal=Muelleria |date=1994 |volume=8 |issue=2 |pages=213–216 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/209968#page/119/mode/1up |access-date=28 August 2021}}</ref>
==Taxonomy and naming== ''Bossiaea rufa'' was first formally described in 1812 by Robert Brown in ''Hortus Kewensis''.<ref name=APNI>{{cite web|title=''Bossiaea rufa''|url= https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/468621 |publisher=APNI|access-date=28 August 2021}}</ref><ref name="R.Br.">{{cite book |last1=Brown |first1=Robert |last2=Aiton |first2=William (ed.) |title=Hortus Kewensis |edition=2 |volume=1|date=1812 |publisher=Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown |location=London |page=267 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/185200#page/277/mode/1up |access-date=28 August 2021}}</ref> The specific epithet (''rufa'') means "reddish-brown".<ref name="Sharr">{{cite book |last1=Sharr |first1=Francis Aubi |last2=George |first2=Alex |title=Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings |date=2019 |publisher=Four Gables Press |location=Kardinya, WA |isbn=9780958034180 |page=298 |edition=3rd}}</ref>
==Distribution and habitat== This bossiaea usually grows in sandy soil in moist places near streams and swamps in the Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest, Mallee, Swan Coastal Plain and Warren biogeographic regions of south-western Western Australia.<ref name="FloraBase" /><ref name="Muelleria" />
==Conservation status== ''Bossiaea rufa'' is classified as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.<ref name="FloraBase" />
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q15525729}}
rufa Category:Flora of Western Australia Category:Plants described in 1812 Category:Taxa named by Robert Brown (botanist, born 1773)