Viminaria
Template:Short description Template:Speciesbox
Viminaria juncea is the single species<ref group="Note">There are three additional unresolved species names: Viminaria denudata Sm., Viminaria lateriflora Link, and Viminaria preissii Meisn.<ref name="PlantList"/><ref name="GRIN"/></ref> in the genus Viminaria endemic to Australia.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="GRIN">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="PlantList">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The genus is in the pea family Fabaceae. It is colloquially known as native broom after its resemblance to the related European broom plants.<ref name=gnp>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Noongar peoples know the plant as koweda.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
TaxonomyEdit
Originally described in 1795 by Schrader as Sophora juncea,<ref>Template:APNI</ref> it was given its current binomial name by Hoffmannsegg in 1824.<ref>Template:APNI</ref> The genus name is derived from the Latin vimineus "switch", and the species name from Latin juncus "rush", hence "rush-like". Alternate names include golden spray, native broom and swishbush.<ref name=EJ10>Template:Cite book</ref>
DescriptionEdit
Native broom grows as an erect or weeping shrub Template:Convert high and Template:Convert wide. It has a smooth trunk and ascending branches while the minor branchlets often droop.<ref name=EJ10/> The long and thin leaves are essentially petioles and measure Template:Convert in length.<ref name="floransw"/>
Flowering occurs from September to January, the flowers growing on racemes to about Template:Convert in length. Measuring Template:Convert in diameter, they are yellow with an orange corolla and are typically pea-shaped. They are followed by small pods containing single seeds.<ref name=EJ10/>
DistributionEdit
The preferred habitat is swampy areas near the coast across southern Australia, from the vicinity of Geraldton in Western Australia southwards to Esperance,<ref>Template:FloraBase</ref> and in the east in coastal Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia.<ref name="floransw">Template:NSW Flora Online</ref>
CultivationEdit
Native broom is a fast-growing plant in the garden, but can lose vigor once about 5 or 10 years old. It prefers an acidic to neutral soil with ample moisture and is hardy to temperatures of −4 °C. Plants grown from seed are sturdier than cutting-grown specimens.<ref name=EJ10/>