Lotus australis (DOMIN, 1926)

Kramina, Tatiana & Sokoloff, Dmitry, 2004, A taxonomic study of Lotus australis complex (Leguminosae), with special emphasis on plants from Pacific Ocean islands, Adansonia (3) 26 (2), pp. 171-197 : 178-179

Key to species and varieties of the Lotus australis complex

1. Stems and leaves completely glabrous ...................................................................................................... 2

1’. Stems and leaves with more or less conspicuous indumentum; in less pubescent plants hairs are well detectable at least on axillary buds and upper parts of peduncles .............................................................. 4

2. True stipules wanting (a pair of basal leaflets should not be mistaken to stipules). Leaflets obovate. True bracts are wanting or scarcely visible, or, contrary, relatively large (1-2 mm long), linear, herbaceous, always eglandular (a foliage leaf situated at the umbel base should not be mistaken to a bract). Standard blade clearly delimited from the narrow claw. Internal side of calyx teeth glabrous or pubescent ........................ 3

2’. True stipules are represented by small dark glands situated just between stem node and place of insertion of basal leaflets. Leaflets linear to oblanceolate. True bracts are small, but always well detectable, with dark glandular margins. Standard claw gradually widening upwards and not clearly delimited from the blade. Internal side of calyx teeth is glabrous ................................................ 1.2. Lotus australis var. austroglaber

3. Internal side of calyx teeth pubescent (the only pubescent plant part) .......................................................... .................................................................................................. 3.1. Lotus anfractuosus var. anfractuosus

3’. Internal side of calyx teeth glabrous (plant is totally glabrous) ...... 3.2. Lotus anfractuosus var. vanuatensis

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Pacific and Australian Lotus (Leguminosae)

4. Style 2.5-4 mm long. Flowers (4)5-9(10) mm long. Calyx teeth as long as the tube or shorter. Umbels 1-4- flowered. Fruits usually incurved, less often straight. Leaflets usually obovate, rarely oblanceolate ................ ........................................................................................................................................ 4. Lotus cruentus

4’. Style (4.2)4.5-6.5(8) mm long. Flowers (8.5)10-20(22) mm long. Calyx teeth as long as the tube or longer. Umbels 2-8-flowered. Fruits usually straight. Leaflets obovate, oblanceolate or linear .............................. 5

5. Keel strongly incurved, shortly rostrate. True stipules wanting, less often present and very small. Peduncles often as long as subtending leaves. Wings and standard white ........................................ 2. Lotus pacificus

5’. Keel moderately incurved, long rostrate. True stipules usually small, but well detectable, less often scarcely detectable, extremely rare absent. Peduncles often much longer than the subtending leaves. Wings and standard white, pink or purple ........................................................................ 1.1 Lotus australis var. australis