SafePlants

Cullen tenax: Tough Scurf-pea or Emu Foot

Cullen tenax, commonly known as Tough Scurf-pea or Emu Foot, is a native perennial herb found in Australia. This plant belongs to the Fabaceae (pea) family and is known for its role as a host plant for certain butterfly species.

Considerations for Pets

• The text mentions that this plant is often found as a scrambling groundcover, which could make it accessible to pets in gardens or natural areas.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Cullen tenax (Lindl.) J.W.Grimes
• Common Names: Tough Scurf-pea, Emu Foot
• Family: Fabaceae (Pea Family)
• Kingdom: Plants (Plantae)
• Class: Rosopsida (Higher Dicots)
• Synonyms: Psoralea tenax Lindl., Lotodes tenax

Distribution and Habitat

• Cullen tenax is found in Australia, including locations such as Mawson (ACT), Mulanggari Grasslands, and Anstead.
• It is often found in Eucalypt forests and grasslands.

Morphological Characteristics

• It's a perennial herb with stems reaching up to approximately 50 cm long.
• The stems can be decumbent (lying along the ground with the tip ascending), procumbent (trailing along the ground), or nearly erect.
• The stems can be glabrous (hairless) or have minute appressed hairs.
• Leaves are typically palmately 5-7 foliolate (having 5 to 7 leaflets), measuring about 5-15 cm in length.

Ecological Role

• Cullen tenax serves as a larval host plant for butterflies such as the Chequered Swallowtail (Papilio demoleus), and possibly others.

Quirky Facts

• The genus Cullen is named after William Cullen (1710-1790), a Scottish physician and chemist who lectured on botany at the University of Glasgow.

Further Information

• Discover Life offers a page about the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Cullen tenax.
• PlantNET Flora Online
• Australian Plant Name Index (APNI)