Pultenaea dentata, commonly known as clustered bush-pea,[2] is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is an erect to low-lying or prostrate, open shrub with elliptic to narrow egg-shaped leaves and dense clusters of yellow, red and purple flowers.

Clustered bush-pea
Pultenaea dentata near Beremboke, Victoria
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Genus: Pultenaea
Species:
P. dentata
Binomial name
Pultenaea dentata
Synonyms[1]

Description

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Pultenaea dentata is an erect to low-lying or prostrate, openly-branched shrub that typically grows to a height of 20–80 cm (7.9–31.5 in) and has wiry stems. The leaves are elliptic to egg-shaped or lance-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, 5–12 mm (0.20–0.47 in) long, 0.5–2 mm (0.020–0.079 in) wide and dished on the upper surface. There are triangular to lance-shaped stipules 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) long at the base of the leaves. The flowers are densely clustered in groups of more than six on the ends of the branchlets, with dark brown, egg-shaped bracts. The sepals are 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long with three-lobed bracteoles 2.0–2.5 mm (0.079–0.098 in) long attached to the base of the sepal tube. The standard petal is bright yellow with red markings, the wings are yellow and the keel is purple with a yellow base. Flowering occurs from October to December and the fruit is a flattened, egg-shaped pod.[2][3][4]

Taxonomy and naming

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Pultenaea dentata was first formally described in 1805 by Jacques Labillardière in Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen.[5][6] The specific epithet (densifolia) means "toothed".[7]

Distribution and habitat

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This pultenaea grows in swampy heath or on the edges of streams in south-eastern, Queensland, on the coast and tablelands of New South Wales, southern Victoria, south-eastern South Australia and in Tasmania where it is widespread and common.[2][3][4][8]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Pultenaea dentata". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Corrick, Margaret G. "Pultenaea dentata". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Pultenaea dentata". State Herbarium of South Australia. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Pultenaea dentata". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  5. ^ "Pultenaea dentata". APNI. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  6. ^ Labillardière, Jacques (1805). Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen. Paris. pp. 103–104. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  7. ^ Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 181. ISBN 9780958034180.
  8. ^ Jordan, Greg. "Pultenaea dentata". University of Tasmania. Retrieved 5 July 2021.