Carmichaelia appressa

Carmichaelia appressa (common name prostrate broom)^[4] is a species of pea in the family Fabaceae. It is found only in the South Island of New Zealand.^[4][2] Its conservation status (2018) is "At Risk - Naturally Uncommon" under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.^[1]

Carmichaelia appressa
Stems lying flat & flowers
Seeds still held by the plant
Conservation status
Naturally Uncommon (NZ TCS)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Subfamily:	Faboideae
Genus:	Carmichaelia
Species:	C. appressa
Binomial name
Carmichaelia appressa G.Simpson[2][3]
Occurrence data from AVH

Description

Carmichaelia appressa is a "spreading, closely-branched plant... forming more or less circular mats to 2 m. diameter" which are closely pressed to the ground. It flowers in summer.^[3]

Taxonomy

The species was first described by George Simpson in 1945.^[2][3] A lectotype, CHR_45580_A was collected by Simpson in 1938,^[5] in February from Ellesmere Spit, Canterbury.^[6]

Habitat

Its habitat is "shingle beaches close to the sea".^[3]