What is "swainsona"

Swainsona is a large genus of flowering plants native to Australasia. There are 85 species, all but one of which is endemic to Australia; the exception, S. novae-zelandiae, occurs only in New Zealand.

A member of the family Fabaceae ( legumes), it is most closely related to the New Zealand genera Montigena (scree pea), Clianthus (kakabeak), and Carmichaelia ( New Zealand broom).

Swainsona is named after English botanist Isaac Swainson.

A few species are known to produce swainsonine, a phytotoxin harmful to livestock (see Locoweed). In Australia, animals intoxicated with swainsonine are said to be pea struck.

• Swainsona acuticarinata (A.T.Lee) Joy Thomps.
• Swainsona adenophylla J.M.Black
• Swainsona affinis (A.T.Lee) Joy Thomps.
• Swainsona beasleyana F.Muell.
• Swainsona behriana F.Muell. ex J.M.Black
• Swainsona brachycarpa Benth.
• Swainsona bracteata (Maiden & Betche) Joy Thomps.
• Swainsona burkei F.Muell. ex Benth.
• Swainsona burkittii F.Muell. ex Benth.
• Swainsona cadellii F.Muell. ex C.Moore & Betche
• Swainsona calcicola Joy Thomps.
• Swainsona campestris J.M.Black
• Swainsona campylantha F.Muell.
• Swainsona canescens (Benth.) F.Muell.
• Swainsona colutoides F.Muell.
• Swainsona complanata Joy Thomps.
• Swainsona concinna F.M.Bailey
• Swainsona cornuta Joy Thomps.
• Swainsona coronillifolia Salisb.
• Swainsona cyclocarpa F.Muell.
• Swainsona decurrens A.T.Lee
• Swainsona dictyocarpa J.M.Black
• Swainsona disjuncta Joy Thomps.
• Swainsona ecallosa Sprague
• Swainsona elegans A.T.Lee
• Swainsona elegantoides (A.T.Lee) Joy Thomps.
• Swainsona eremaea Joy Thomps.
• Swainsona extrajacens Joy Thomps.
• Swainsona fissimontana J.M.Black
• Swainsona flavicarinata J.M.Black
• Swainsona formosa (G. Don) Joy Thomps. – Sturt's Desert Pea
• Swainsona forrestii F.Muell. ex A.T.Lee
• Swainsona fragilis F.M.Bailey
• Swainsona fraseri Benth.
• Swainsona fuscoviridis Joy Thomps.
• Swainsona galegifolia (Andrews) R.Br.
• Swainsona gracilis Benth.
• Swainsona greyana Lindl.
• Swainsona halophila Joy Thomps.
• Swainsona incei W.R.Price
• Swainsona kingii F.Muell.
• Swainsona lessertiifolia DC.