Bossiaea simulata

Bossiaea simulata is a compact shrub that typically grows up to 0.9 m (2 ft 11 in) high and 1 m (3 ft 3 in) wide with many stems at the base. The branches are flattened and end in sharply pointed cladodes 1.5–3.0 mm (0.059–0.118 in) wide. The leaves, when present, are reduced to egg-shaped scales 0.6–1.2 mm (0.024–0.047 in) long. The flowers are arranged singly, in pairs or threes at nodes along the cladodes, each flower on a hairy pedicel 1.8–4.6 mm (0.071–0.181 in) long with egg-shaped bracts up to 1.2 mm (0.047 in) long and wide at the base and narrow egg-shaped, reddish-brown bracteoles 0.9–2.0 mm (0.035–0.079 in) long on the pedicels. The five sepals are hairy and joined at the base, forming a tube 1.7–2.9 mm (0.067–0.114 in) long, the two upper lobes 0.8–1.5 mm (0.031–0.059 in) long and the lower lobes slightly shorter. The standard petal is golden yellow, sometimes with a red base, and 7.5–10.1 mm (0.30–0.40 in) long, the wings 6.8–9.5 mm (0.27–0.37 in) long, and the keel pale greenish-yellow and 6.7–8.8 mm (0.26–0.35 in) long. Flowering occurs from October to December and the fruit is an oblong pod 12–19 mm (0.47–0.75 in) long.[2][3]

Bossiaea simulata was first formally described in 1994 by James Henderson Ross in the journal Muelleria from specimens collected near Mount Willgonarinya in 1997.[3][4] The specific epithet (simulata) means "imitating" or "resembling", referring to the superficial resemblance of this species to Bossiaea celata.[3]

This bossiaea grows in low Eucalyptus woodland from Mount Malcolm near Leonora to Mount Willgonarinya, in the Coolgardie and Mallee biogeographic regions of inland Western Australia.[2][3]

Bossiaea simulata is classified as "Priority Two" by the Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions,[2] meaning that it is poorly known and from only one or a few locations.[5]