Day 4 Kennedia coccinea, multi-tasking to get nutrients from bare sand.
So beautiful, thriving in sandy exposed places!
Here it is on our ridge walk and also above the Healing Beach
Pea plants in the Fabaceae family are abundant in Lowlands Reserve as they are able to extract nutrients using their specialised root nodules and fix nitrogen.
However, Kennedias are superheroes in getting nutrients, using up to three different strategies! Yes, they develop nitrogen fixing nodules, but Kennedia can also exude carboxylates to mobilise phosphorus and in addition they can form mycorrhizal associations to extract even more phosphorus. This multi-tasking plant needs no applications of super to make a stunning show in superficially unpromising soils.
Their fluoro colours are truly stunning. Named after a Scottish nursery man, John Kennedy, not the late President Kennedy
Follow me on instagram and twitter @lowlandsbeach . https://www.instagram.com/lowlandsbeach/
https://twitter.com/lowlandsbeach
Lowlands Reserve is managed by the local community and City of Albany. Bush Heritage manage lots of other wonderful reserves
