Kennedia coccinea

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.<ref name=WA>{{FloraBase|name=Kennedia coccinea |id=4037}}</ref>

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:K. coccinea (Curtis) Vent. subsp. coccineaK. coccinea subsp. calcaria LallyK. coccinea subsp. esotera'' Lally

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.

References

Category:Fabales of Australia
Category:Plants described in 1804
Category:Rosids of Western Australia
coccinea