Some Pretty Cullen Species.

Cullen patens, Cullen tenax
FAMILY: FABACEAE
Two of our local species of Cullen are flowering at the moment, out near Oakey.
They are both perennial plants, and are pretty at this time of the year, smothered with flowers in two shades of pink.
As well as being good for native pastures because of their palatibility to stock, they are great plants for a wildlife garden. A number of animals eat them, and they are hosts for several butterfly species. This includes several kinds of small blue butterflies, and the large and showy chequered swallowtails - butterflies whose numbers are dwindling in the Toowoomba area due to loss of habitat.



The photo below shows Bullamon lucerne, Cullen patens, a spreading perennial growing to about 15cm high. It comes in two leaf colours. Out west it’s blue-green, but here the leaves are dark green.



It loves the hard conditions in the gravel right near the edge of the road, where the drainage is good and the plants get a bit of moisture from the road.

Cullen patens.

Emu Foot, Cullen tenax, has lush green leaves, lavender-coloured flowers, and is slightly taller than its cousin, growing to knee-height.

 

Cullen tenax

 Both plants are flowering out near Oakey this week.