Pultenaea mollis, commonly known as soft bush-pea or guinea flower bush pea,[2] is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is an erect or spreading shrub with narrow linear to elliptic or needle-shaped leaves and clusters of up to ten yellow to orange flowers with red markings.
| Soft bush-pea | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Genus: | Pultenaea |
| Species: | P. mollis
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| Binomial name | |
| Pultenaea mollis | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Description
editPultenaea mollis is an erect or spreading shrub that typically grows to a height of up to 3 m (9.8 ft) with stems covered with twisted or curled hairs. The leaves are arranged alternately, narrow linear to elliptic or needle-shaped, 10–20 mm (0.39–0.79 in) long and 0.3–1.2 mm (0.012–0.047 in) wide with the edges rolled inwards and the lower surface hairy. There are stipules 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) long with their eges rolled under, at the base of the leaves. The flowers are arranged in leafy clusters of four to ten near the ends of short side branches, each flower 7–9 mm (0.28–0.35 in) long on pedicels 1.5–4 mm (0.059–0.157 in) long with bracts up to 5 mm (0.20 in) long. The sepals are 4–8 mm (0.16–0.31 in) long with egg-shaped bracteoles 2–8 mm (0.079–0.315 in) long attached at the base of the sepal tube. The standard petal and wings are yellow with red markings and the keel is red. Flowering occurs from spring to summer and the fruit is an egg-shaped pod 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long.[2][3][4]
Taxonomy
editPultenaea mollis was first formally described in 1838 by John Lindley in Thomas Mitchell's journal, Three Expeditions into the interior of Eastern Australia.[5][6] The specific epithet (mollis) means "soft".[7]
Distribution and habitat
editSoft bush-pea grows in forest, sometimes in heathland, and occurs in coastal areas south from Gosford in New South Wales to the southern half of Victoria where it is widespread and locally common. The species also occurs in the north-east of Tasmania.[2][3][8]
Conservation status
editPultenaea mollis is classified as "vulnerable" under the Tasmanian Government Threatened Species Protection Act 1995.[8]
References
edit- ^ a b "Pultenaea microphylla". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ a b c "Pultenaea mollis". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
- ^ a b Corrick, Margaret G. "Pultenaea mollis". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
- ^ Wood, Betty. "Pultenaea". Lucid Keys. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
- ^ "Pultenaea mollis". APNI. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
- ^ Lindley, John; Mitchell, Thomas L. (ed.) (1838). Three Expeditions into the interior of Eastern Australia. London: T. & W. Boone. p. 178. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
{{cite book}}:|first2=has generic name (help) - ^ Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 254. ISBN 9780958034180.
- ^ a b "Threatened Species Link - Pultenaea mollis". Tasmanian Government Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment. Retrieved 30 July 2021.