Family
Fabaceae

Distribution
A rare and critically endangered plant found in only a few lowland river terraces and streamside localities in Canterbury and North Otago.

Description
A scrambling liane: {Semi-climbing} shrub with branches 2-4m long, which are grooved, sparsely hairy or glabrous: {Smooth, with no hairs}. The long flexuous stems are usually supported by other plants or interlaced among themselves. Leafy in spring and summer if in moist shaded situations but often leafless in drier localities exposed to sun and wind. The seeds are a distinctive colour being white or pale blue with black markings. The flowers are white with purple veins, up to 1 cm across and between 2-6 per raceme: {Each flower grows on its own stalk from a common stem}.

Cultivation
Carmichaelia kirkii suits dappled shade or a half day sun and then shade. Will tolerate dry, moist or wet soils and, although it can cope with arid conditions, does best in rich, moist, well-drained soils. It grows fast and would be well-suited for a retainer wall or steep bank, where its flowers would make a pleasant display.