''Pultenaea largiflorens'', commonly known as twiggy bush-pea, is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found else ...

to south-eastern continental Australia. It is a rigid, erect shrub with narrow egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, and bright yellow and crimson flowers.

Description

''Pultenaea largiflorens'' is a rigid erect shrub that typically grows to a height of , sometimes higher, and has softly-hairy stems. The leaves are wedge-shaped to narrow egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, long and wide with triangular

stipule In botany, a stipule is an outgrowth typically borne on both sides (sometimes on just one side) of the base of a leafstalk (the petiole). Stipules are considered part of the anatomy of the leaf of a typical flowering plant, although in many speci ...

s less than long pressed against the stem at the base. The leaves are often folded lengthwise and the upper surface is paler than the lower. The flowers are long,

sessile Sessility, or sessile, may refer to: * Sessility (motility), organisms which are not able to move about * Sessility (botany), flowers or leaves that grow directly from the stem or peduncle of a plant * Sessility (medicine), tumors and polyps that ...

or on a

pedicel Pedicle or pedicel may refer to: Human anatomy *Pedicle of vertebral arch, the segment between the transverse process and the vertebral body, and is often used as a radiographic marker and entry point in vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty procedures ...

less than long. There are overlapping oblong bracts long at the base of the flowers. The sepals are long with egg-shaped

bracteoles In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis or cone scale. Bracts are usually different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or o ...

about long near the base of the

sepal A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 The term ''sepalum'' was coine ...

tube. The

standard Standard may refer to: Symbols * Colours, standards and guidons, kinds of military signs * Standard (emblem), a type of a large symbol or emblem used for identification Norms, conventions or requirements * Standard (metrology), an object th ...

and

wings A wing is a type of fin that produces lift while moving through air or some other fluid. Accordingly, wings have streamlined cross-sections that are subject to aerodynamic forces and act as airfoils. A wing's aerodynamic efficiency is expre ...

are yellow to orange, the standard long, and the keel is crimson. Flowering occurs from July to December and the fruit is an egg-shaped, hairy pod about long.

Taxonomy and naming

''Pultenaea largiflorens'' was first formally described in 1864 by

George Bentham George Bentham (22 September 1800 – 10 September 1884) was an English botanist, described by the weed botanist Duane Isely as "the premier systematic botanist of the nineteenth century". Born into a distinguished family, he initially studie ...

in ''

Flora Australiensis ''Flora Australiensis: a description of the plants of the Australian Territory'', more commonly referred to as ''Flora Australiensis'', and also known by its standard abbreviation ''Fl. Austral.'', is a seven-volume flora of Australia published be ...

'' from an unpublished description by Ferdinand von Mueller. The specific epithet (''largiflorens'') means "plentiful-flowering".

Distribution and habitat

Twiggy push-pea grows in forest, woodland and mallee in Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia. It is most common in central Victoria, and occurs in the west of New South Wales, south from

West Wyalong West Wyalong is the main town of the Bland Shire in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. Located west of Sydney and above sea level, it is situated on the crossroads of the Newell Highway between Melbourne and Brisbane, and th ...

and in the south-east of South Australia.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q15525718 largiflorens Flora of Victoria (state) Flora of New South Wales Flora of South Australia Plants described in 1864 Taxa named by George Bentham