Pultenaea flexilis explained

Pultenaea flexilis known as the graceful bush-pea,[1] is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is an erect shrub with linear to narrow egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, and yellow to orange flowers with red markings.

Description

Pultenaea flexilis is an erect shrub that typically grows to a height of up to and sometimes has sparsely hairy stems. The leaves are linear to narrow egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, long and wide with stipules long at the base and the lower surface darker than the upper. The flowers are arranged in clusters near the ends of branchlets and are long, each flower on a pedicel long. The sepals are long with papery linear bracteoles long near the base. The petals are yellow to orange sometimes with red markings. Flowering occurs from winter to spring and the fruit is a pod long.[2]

Taxonomy

Pultenaea flexilis was first formally described in 1805 by James Edward Smith in the journal Annals of Botany from specimens collected at Port Jackson.[3] [4] The specific epithet (flexilis) is a Latin word meaning "flexible", referring to the leaves.[5]

Distribution and habitat

Graceful bush-pea grows in forest on the coast and tablelands of south-east Queensland and New South Wales as far south as Deua National Park.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Pultenaea flexilis . Royal Botanic Garden Sydney . 11 July 2021.
  2. Book: Robinson . Les . Field guide to the native plants of Sydney . 2003 . Kangaroo Press . East Roseville, NSW . 9780731812110 . 86 . Rev. 3rd.
  3. Web site: Pultenaea flexilis. APNI. 11 July 2021.
  4. Smith . James Edward . Remarks on the generic Characters of the Decandrous Papilionaceous Plants of New Holland . Annals of Botany . 1805 . 1 . 502 . 23 August 2021.
  5. Book: Sharr . Francis Aubi . George . Alex . Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings . 2019 . Four Gables Press . Kardinya, WA . 9780958034180 . 200 . 3rd.