Pultenaea aristata
| Bearded bush-pea | |
|---|---|
| |
| Pultenaea aristata in Illawong | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Genus: | Pultenaea |
| Species: | P. aristata
|
| Binomial name | |
| Pultenaea aristata | |
Pultenaea aristata, commonly known as bearded bush-pea[2] or prickly bush-pea,[3] is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to New South Wales. It is a small, erect shrub with linear to narrow elliptic, sharp-tipped leaves, and yellow and red flowers.
Description
[edit]Pultenaea aristata is an erect shrub that typically grows to a height of 0.4–1.0 m (1 ft 4 in – 3 ft 3 in). The leaves are linear to narrow elliptic, 8–22 mm (0.31–0.87 in) long and 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) wide tapering to a sharp point, and with stipules 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long at the base. The upper and lower surfaces a similar shade of green and are covered with small pimples. The flowers are densely crowded at the ends of the branchlets with overlapping bracts at the base. Each flower is about 12 mm (0.47 in) long on a pedicel 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) long with linear to egg-shaped bracteoles 7–8 mm (0.28–0.31 in) long and with a hairy awn at the tip. The sepals are about 9 mm (0.35 in) long with sharp point. The standard petal is yellow to orange with reddish markings and 10–13 mm (0.39–0.51 in) long, the wings are yellow and the keel is red. Flowering occurs between September and October and the fruit is an oval pod.[2][3][4][5]
Taxonomy and naming
[edit]Pultenaea aristata was first formally described in 1825 by Augustin Pyramus de Candolle in his Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis from an unpublished description by Franz Sieber.[6][7] The specific epithet (aristata) means "awned".[8]
Distribution and habitat
[edit]Bearded bush-pea grows in woodland and heath on sandstone, from the southern suburbs of Sydney to Mount Keira near Wollongong.[2][3]
Conservation status
[edit]This pultenaea is classified as "vulnerable" under the Australian Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and the New South Wales Government Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. The main threats to the species include inappropriate fire regimes, understorey clearing and road widening and maintenance.[3][5]
References
[edit]- ^ "Pultenaea aristata". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
- ^ a b c "Pultenaea aristata". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Prickly Bush-pea - profile". New South Wales Government Offic of Environment and Heritage. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
- ^ Wood, Betty. "Pultenaea aristata". Lucid keys. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
- ^ a b "Approved Conservation Advice for Pultenaea aristata" (PDF). Australian Government Department of the Environment. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
- ^ "Pultenaea aristata". APNI. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
- ^ de Candolle, Augustin P. (1825). Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis. Vol. 2. Paris. p. 112. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
- ^ Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 137. ISBN 9780958034180.