''Platylobium formosum'', also known as handsome flat-pea, is a shrub that 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 els ...

to Australia. It is a member of the family Fabaceae and of the genus ''

Platylobium ''Platylobium'' is a genus of shrubs in the family Fabaceae. Native to south eastern Australia, they occur in a range of habitats of the coastal regions. The genus was first described by James Edward Smith, and is closely allied to '' Boss ...

''.

Description

The species is an erect or straggling shrub with wiry stems which usually grows to a height of between 1 and 2 metres. The leaves are opposite with very short, almost unnoticeable petioles. The leaf surface has a pronounced reticulation of veins on the surface and is dark green above and lighter below. The leaf size ranges from 2 to 5 cm in length and 1 to 2.3 cm in width. The flowers appear in spring, between September and November in their native range. These are orange-yellow with a red centre, with red markings in the centre, on the tip of the keel and on the back of the standard. and are supported by a long stalk which is covered by hairs and arises from the leaf axil. The pods which follow are flat, glabrous or hairy and about 2 to 4 cm in length.

Taxonomy

The species was first formally described by botanist James Edward Smith in 1793 in ''

A Specimen of the Botany of New Holland ''A Specimen of the Botany of New Holland'', also known by its standard abbreviation ''Spec. Bot. New Holland'', was the first published book on the flora of Australia. Written by James Edward Smith and illustrated by James Sowerby, it was publi ...

''. The specific epithet ''formosum'' is derived from the Latin word for ''beautiful''. Following a taxonomic review of the genus ''

'' in 2011, plants in

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada * Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory * Victoria, Seychelle ...

formerly known by this name have been reclassified as '' P. infecundum'', '' P. montanum'', '' P. parviflorum'', '' P. reflexum'' or '' P. rotundum''. Plants in

Tasmania ) , nickname = , image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdi ...

previously known as ''P. formosum'' subsp. ''parviflorum'' have been reclassified as ''Platylobium parviflorum''.

Distribution

This species is found in

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

and

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

. It is common and widespread in habitats ranging from

heathland A heath () is a shrubland habitat (ecology), habitat found mainly on free-draining infertile, acidic soils and characterised by open, low-growing woody vegetation. Moorland is generally related to high-ground heaths with—especially in Great B ...

rainforest Rainforests are characterized by a closed and continuous tree canopy, moisture-dependent vegetation, the presence of epiphytes and lianas and the absence of wildfire. Rainforest can be classified as tropical rainforest or temperate rainfo ...

margins.

References

External links

* * * {{Taxonbar, from=Q7202647 formosum Fabales of Australia Flora of New South Wales Flora of Queensland Taxa named by James Edward Smith