Desert Pea (Swainsona formosa)
This weird, wonderful flower is quite the evolutionary produce, surviving and thriving in dry, arid climates. The blood-red petals with their bulbous, purplish-black middles make these flowers look more like aliens. Perhaps thatβs why the Desert Pea is one of Australiaβs best-known and most recognised wildflowers. Besides, it is also the state flower of South Australia. But just because it happens to be one of the most famous wildflowers in Australia doesnβt mean you can go around and start picking it; quite the opposite in fact. The Desert Pea is among the native Australian flowers and is a protected species. As a result, it is illegal to collect or pick any without explicit written consent of the Australian government.