Common name: Handsome Flat Pea
Platylobium formosum Sm. APNI* Synonyms: Platylobium formosum Sm. subsp. formosum APNI*
Description: Erect, straggling shrub or subshrub to 1.5 m high; stems glabrous, villous or scabrous.
Leaves usually ovate, 3–7.5 cm long, 15–40 mm wide, apex pungent or mucronate, base cordate, upper surface reticulate, glabrous or scabrous, lower surface paler, glabrous or sparsely hairy; stipules 2–5 mm long, persistent.
Inflorescences 1, occasionally 2 per axil. Inflorescence scales 4–6, hairy all over; bracts 2–3 mm long; bracteoles 3–4 mm long; pedicels 3–12 mm long. Calyx (7.5–)8–12 mm long, sparse to moderately hairy with loosely appressed hairs. Standard petal 15–20 mm long, 18–25 mm wide; mostly orange-yellow with back of standard purplish-brown with yellow bands; wing petals yellow throughout; keel often purplish.
Pod oblong, 25–45 mm long on stipes 5–10 mm long, hairy on sutures and retaining some pubescence especially on the zone over the seeds.
Flowering: Spring
Distribution and occurrence: In near coastal areas north of Jervis Bay. Sheltered sites on shale and sandstone.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, SC, CT, ST, CWS, SWS
Other Australian states: Qld Vic. Tas.
Description derived from I. Thompson (2011) A revision of >Platylobium> ( Fabacveae: Bossieae) >Muelleria> 29:154-172.
Text by T. A. James; revised Peter Jobson Feb 2023 Taxon concept:
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data ***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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