Kennedia prostrata

Kennedia prostrata is a prostrate or twining shrub with wiry stems up to 2 m (6 ft 7 in) long and that are hairy when young. The leaves are on a petiole 5–50 mm (0.20–1.97 in) long with more or less round leaflets 6–35 mm (0.24–1.38 in) long and wide with wavy edges, the end leaflet on a petiolule 2–9 mm (0.079–0.354 in) long but the side leaflets more or less sessile. There is a heart-shaped stipule about 5 mm (0.20 in) long at the base of the petiole. The flowers are borne singly or in pairs on a peduncle 5–30 mm (0.20–1.18 in) long with bracts 2–5 mm (0.079–0.197 in) long at the base, the individual flowers on pedicels 5–25 mm (0.20–0.98 in) long. The five sepals are hairy, 6–8 mm (0.24–0.31 in) long, the petals usually scarlet, rarely white. The standard petal is 13–23 mm (0.51–0.91 in) long, the wings 12–18 mm (0.47–0.71 in) long and the keel 12–22 mm (0.47–0.87 in) long. Flowering occurs from April to November and the fruit is a flattened cylindrical pod 20–50 mm (0.79–1.97 in) long.[2][3][4][5][6]

Kennedia prostrata was first formally described by Robert Brown in 1812 in Hortus Kewensis.[7][8] The specific epithet (prostrata) means "prostrate".[9]

Running postman occurs in all Australian states except Queensland and the Northern Territroy and grows in a variety of habitats, often on coastal sand dunes and on rock outcrops.[1][2][3][5]

The species is naturally adapted to sandy or lighter soils and prefers a sunny position. A widely cultivated species, it grows in temperate to subtropical areas and is hardy in most situations.[6][10]

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