Did you know that the flower of Crotalaria cunninghamii greatly resembles a bird attached by its beak to the central stalk of the flowerhead?

Green birdflower - Crotalaria cunninghamii

Crotalaria cunninghamii, also known as green birdflower, birdflower ratulpo, parrot pea or regal birdflower, is a plant of the legume family Fabaceae. It  is a short-lived perennial plant native to Australia and its habitat is the deserts, coastlands, drainage lines and sand dunes of the northern half of Western Australia and the Northern Territory. This habitat is semi-arid to temperate regions in well drained soils. Crotalaria cunninghamii blooms from January to April. It is pollinated by large bees and by honeyeaters.

Crotalaria cunninghamii is a shrub growing 1 - 3 metres tall. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of fibre. The fibre is of high quality and has potential for commercial production. The plant is also grown as an ornamental in gardens, valued especially for its large, coloured flowers.

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