Pultenaea humilis explained

Pultenaea humilis, commonly known as dwarf bush-pea,[1] is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is a spreading, often low-lying shrub with branches that are hairy when young, elliptic to lance-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, and yellow to orange and red flowers.

Description

Pultenaea humilis is a spreading, often low-lying or prostrate shrub that typically grows to a height of about and has branches long and hairy when young. The leaves are arranged alternately, elliptic to lance-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, long and wide with lance-shaped stipules long at the base. The edges of the leaves curve upwards and the upper surface is paler than the lower surface. The flowers are arranged singly in leaf axils in clusters near the ends of branches. They are long on pedicels about long with linear to triangular bracteoles long attached to the side of the sepal tube. The sepals are long, the standard petal yellow to orange with a red base and wide, the wings are yellow to red and the keel yellow to reddish-brown. Flowering occurs from October to December and the fruit is an egg-shaped pod long.[2] [3]

Taxonomy and naming

Pultenaea humilis was first formally described in 1856 by Joseph Dalton Hooker in The Botany of the Antarctic voyage of H.M. Discovery ships Erebus and Terror. III. Flora Tasmaniae, based on an unpublished description by George Bentham.[4] [5] The specific epithet (humilis) means "low" or "small".[6]

Distribution and habitat

Dwarf bush-pea grows in heath, woodland and forest and is found in scattered populations on the south-western slopes of New South Wales, and the northern midlands of Tasmania. It is widespread and relatively common in central and western areas on and south of the Great Dividing Range in Victoria.

Conservation status

Pultenaea humilis is relatively common in Victoria, but is listed as "vulnerable" in New South Wales under the New South Wales Government Biodiversity Conservation Act and as "vulnerable" in Tasmania under the Tasmanian Government Threatened Species Protection Act 1995.[7] [8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Corrick . Margaret G. . Pultenaea humilis . Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria . 18 July 2021.
  2. Web site: Pultenaea humilis . Royal Botanic Garden Sydney . 18 July 2021.
  3. Web site: Wood . Betty . Pultenaea humilis . Lucid Keys . 18 July 2021.
  4. Web site: Pultenaea humilis. APNI. 18 July 2021.
  5. Book: Hooker . Joseph Dalton . The Botany of the Antarctic voyage of H.M. Discovery ships Erebus and Terror. III. Flora Tasmaniae 1(2) . 1856 . Reeve Brothers . London . 91–92 . 18 July 2020.
  6. Book: Sharr . Francis Aubi . George . Alex . Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings . 2019 . Four Gables Press . Kardinya, WA . 9780958034180 . 220 . 3rd.
  7. Web site: Dwarf Bush-pea - profile . New South Wales Government Office of Heritage and Environment . 18 July 2021.
  8. Web site: Pultenaea humilis . Tasmanian Government Department of Primary Industries, Water, Parks and Environment . 18 July 2021.