''Hovea'' is a genus of about forty species of flowering plants in the family

Fabaceae Fabaceae () or Leguminosae,International Code of Nomen ...

, and is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only 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 foun ...

to Australia. Plants in this genus are sub-shrubs, shrubs or small trees with simple leaves and purple, blue or mauve flowers with a white centre. The fruit is a pod containing brown to blackish seeds. Species of ''Hovea'' occur in all Australian states, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory.

Description

Plants in the genus ''Hovea'' are sub-shrubs, shrubs or sometimes small trees. The leaves are arranged alternately and are

simple Simple or SIMPLE may refer to: *Simplicity, the state or quality of being simple Arts and entertainment * ''Simple'' (album), by Andy Yorke, 2008, and its title track * "Simple" (Florida Georgia Line song), 2018 * "Simple", a song by John ...

, usually with

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 (botany), petiole). They are primarily found among dicots and rare among monocots. Stipules are considered part ...

s at the base and sometimes with prickly edges. The flowers are arranged in leaf axils with

bract In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis or cone scale. Bracts are usually different from foliage leaves in size, color, shape or texture. They also lo ...

s, and two

bracteoles In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis or cone scale. Bracts are usually different from foliage leaves in size, color, shape or texture. They also look ...

at 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 Etymology The term ''sepalum'' ...

s. The upper two sepal lobes are usually joined to form a broad "lip". The petals are purple, blue or mauve, rarely white, and the standard petal is circular to

oblate In Christianity (specifically the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran, Anglican and Methodist traditions), an oblate is a person associated with a Benedictine monastery or convent who is specifically dedicated to God and service. Oblates are i ...

, longer than the

wings A wing is a type of fin that produces both lift and drag while moving through air. Wings are defined by two shape characteristics, an airfoil section and a planform. Wing efficiency is expressed as lift-to-drag ratio, which compares the bene ...

and

keel The keel is the bottom-most longitudinal structural element of a watercraft, important for stability. On some sailboats, it may have a fluid dynamics, hydrodynamic and counterbalancing purpose as well. The keel laying, laying of the keel is often ...

. The ten

stamen The stamen (: stamina or stamens) is a part consisting of the male reproductive organs of a flower. Collectively, the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filament ...

s are joined into a sheath open on the upper side, and differ in length. There are usually only two

ovule In seed plants, the ovule is the structure that gives rise to and contains the female reproductive cells. It consists of three parts: the ''integument'', forming its outer layer, the ''nucellus'' (or remnant of the sporangium, megasporangium), ...

s in the

ovary The ovary () is a gonad in the female reproductive system that produces ova; when released, an ovum travels through the fallopian tube/ oviduct into the uterus. There is an ovary on the left and the right side of the body. The ovaries are end ...

and the fruit is a spherical to oval pod. The seeds are usually long and brown to black with an

aril An aril (), also called arillus, is a specialized outgrowth from a seed that partly or completely covers the seed. An arillode, or false aril, is sometimes distinguished: whereas an aril grows from the attachment point of the seed to the ova ...

Taxonomy

The genus ''Hovea'' was first formally described in 1812 by

Robert Brown Robert Brown may refer to: Robert Brown (born 1965), British Director, Animator and author Entertainers and artists * Washboard Sam or Robert Brown (1910–1966), American musician and singer * Robert W. Brown (1917–2009), American printmaker ...

in Aiton's ''

Hortus Kewensis (Latin for 'Kew Garden'; abbr. ) is a series of works cataloguing the plant species in cultivation at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Background Kew became a favored location for English courtiers ...

'', and the first species he described were '' H. linearis'' and '' H. longifolia.'' The genus name honours the Polish botanist and plant collector,

Anton Pantaleon Hove Anton may refer to: People *Anton (given name), a list of people with the given name *Anton (surname), a list of people with the surname Places *Anton Municipality, Bulgaria **Anton, Sofia Province, a village *Antón District, Panama **Antón, ...

Distribution

Species of ''Hovea'' occur in all states and mainland territories of Australia.

Species list

The following is a list of species of ''Hovea'' accepted by the

Australian Plant Census The Australian Plant Census (APC) provides an online interface to currently accepted, published, scientific names of the vascular flora of Australia, as one of the output interfaces of the national government Integrated Biodiversity Information Sys ...

as at June 2021: * ''

Hovea acanthoclada ''Hovea acanthoclada'', commonly known as thorny hovea, is a flowering plant in the family Fabaceae. It is an upright, prickly shrub with small dark green leaves and purple-blue pea flowers in winter and spring. It is endemic to the south-west ...

'' (Turcz.) F. Muell. – thorny ''Hovea'' (W.A.) * ''

Hovea acutifolia ''Hovea acutifolia'', is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae. It is an upright, small shrub with blue to purple pea flowers, dark green leaves and rusty coloured new growth. It grows in Queensland and New South Wales. Descriptio ...

'' A. Cunn. ex G. Don – northern ''Hovea'' (Qld., N.S.W.) * ''

Hovea angustissima ''Hovea'' is a genus of about forty species of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae, and is endemic to Australia. Plants in this genus are sub-shrubs, shrubs or small trees with simple leaves and purple, blue or mauve flowers with a white ...

'' I. Thomps. (Qld.) * ''

Hovea apiculata ''Hovea apiculata'', is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a shrub with white to greyish or light brown hairs, narrowly oblong leaves with stipules at the base, and purplish and deep ma ...

'' A. Cunn. ex G. Don (Qld., N.S.W.) * ''

Hovea arnhemica ''Hovea arnhemica'', is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to the Top End of the Northern Territory. It is a subshrub with light brown hairs, narrowly egg-shaped or elliptic leaves with stipules at the base, and m ...

'' J. H. Ross (N.T.) * ''

Hovea asperifolia ''Hovea asperifolia'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to south-eastern continental Australia. It is a shrub with hairy branchlets, narrowly oblong to narrowly linear leaves with stipules at the base, and mau ...

'' I. Thomps. (N.S.W., A.C.T., Vic.) * ''

Hovea chorizemifolia ''Hovea chorizemifolia'', commonly known as the holly-leaved hovea, is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small, upright shrub with prickly, green leaves and blue- ...

'' DC. – holly-leaved ''Hovea'' (W.A.) * ''

Hovea clavata ''Hovea'' is a genus of about forty species of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae, and is endemic to Australia. Plants in this genus are sub-shrubs, shrubs or small trees with simple leaves and purple, blue or mauve flowers with a white ...

'' I. Thomps. (Qld.) * ''

Hovea corrickiae ''Hovea corrickiae'', is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is a shrub or slender tree with densely hairy branchlets, narrowly egg-shaped or elliptic, dark green leaves with stipules ...

'' J. H. Ross (Vic., Tas.) * ''

Hovea cymbiformis ''Hovea'' is a genus of about forty species of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae, and is endemic to Australia. Plants in this genus are sub-shrubs, shrubs or small trees with simple leaves and purple, blue or mauve flowers with a white ...

'' I. Thomps. (N.S.W.) * ''

Hovea densivellosa ''Hovea densivellosa'', is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to Queensland. Description ''Hovea densivellosa'' is a shrub that grows to a height of up to . Taxonomy ''Hovea densivellosa'' was first formall ...

'' I. Thomps. (Qld.) * '' Hovea elliptica'' (Sm.) DC. – tree ''Hovea'' (W.A.) * ''

Hovea graniticola ''Hovea graniticola'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a shrub with its branchlets covered with curly brownish to grey hairs, narrowly oblong to almost linear leaves with stipules ...

'' I. Thomps. (N.S.W., Qld.) * '' Hovea heterophylla'' A. Cunn. ex Hook. f. (Qld., N.S.W., A.C.T., Vic., Tas.) * ''

Hovea impressinerva ''Hovea'' is a genus of about forty species of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae, and is endemic to Australia. Plants in this genus are sub-shrubs, shrubs or small trees with simple leaves and purple, blue or mauve flowers with a white ...

'' I. Thomps. (Qld., N.S.W.) * ''

Hovea lanceolata ''Hovea lanceolata'' is a flowering plant in the family Fabaceae. It is a small shrub with elliptic leaves and purple pea flowers. It grows in New South Wales and Queensland. Description ''Hovea lanceolata'' is shrub to tall, most of the plan ...

'' Sims (Qld., N.S.W.) * ''

Hovea linearis ''Hovea linearis'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is an erect or trailing subshrub with mostly narrowly linear to linear leaves with stipules at the base, and mauve and yellowish-g ...

'' (Sm.) R. Br. – common ''Hovea'' (S.A., Qld., N.S.W.) * ''

Hovea longifolia ''Hovea longifolia'', commonly known as rusty pods, is a flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, endemic to eastern Australia. It has purple pea flowers, linear leaves with rusty felt like hairs on the lower surface. Description ''Hovea longifo ...

'' R. Br. – rusty pods, long-leaf ''Hovea'' (N.S.W.) * ''

Hovea longipes ''Hovea longipes'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to north-eastern Australia. It is a shrub or tree with narrowly elliptic to lance-shaped leaves, and deep indigo-blue and white, pea-like flowers. Descrip ...

'' Benth. (Qld., N.S.W.) * ''

Hovea lorata ''Hovea lorata'', is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a shrub with lorate (strap-shaped) leaves, and mauve and greenish-yellow, pea-like flowers. Description ''Hovea lorata'' is a s ...

'' I. Thomps. (Qld., N.S.W.) * '' Hovea magnibractea'' I. Thomps. (Vic., Tas.) * ''

Hovea montana ''Hovea montana'', commonly known as alpine hovea, mountain hovea or alpine rusty-pods, is a flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, and is endemic to Australia. It is a small shrub with narrow leaves and purple pea flowers. Description ''Hove ...

'' (Hook. F.) J. H. Ross – mountain ''Hovea'', alpine rusty-pods, alpine ''Hovea'' (N.S.W., A.C.T., Vic., Tas.) * ''

Hovea nana ''Hovea'' is a genus of about forty species of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae, and is endemic to Australia. Plants in this genus are sub-shrubs, shrubs or small trees with simple leaves and purple, blue or mauve flowers with a white ...

'' I. Thomps. & J. H. Ross (Qld.) * '' Hovea nitida'' I. Thomps. (Qld.) * ''

Hovea pannosa ''Hovea pannosa'' is a species of flowering shrub in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to Australia. It is a small, erect shrub with purple pea flowers and stiff green leaves. Description ''Hovea pannosa'' is a shrub that typically grows to a ...

'' A. Cunn. ex Hook. f. (N.S.W., Vic.) * ''

Hovea parvicalyx ''Hovea'' is a genus of about forty species of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae, and is endemic to Australia. Plants in this genus are sub-shrubs, shrubs or small trees with simple leaves and purple, blue or mauve flowers with a white ...

'' I. Thomps. (Qld.) * ''

Hovea pedunculata ''Hovea pedunculata'', is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae. It is a small shrub with mauve flowers, dark green leaves and rusty coloured new growth. It grows in Queensland and New South Wales. Description ''Hovea pedunculata' ...

'' I. Thomps. & J. H. Ross (Qld., N.S.W.) * '' Hovea planifolia'' (Domin) J. H. Ross (Qld.) * ''

Hovea pungens ''Hovea pungens'', commonly known as devil's pins, is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a small, upright shrub with dark green leaves and purple flowers. Description ''Hovea pungens'' ...

'' Benth. – devil's pins (W.A.) * ''

Hovea purpurea ''Hovea purpurea'', commonly known as velvet hovea, is a flowering plant in the family Fabaceae. It is an upright shrub with narrow leaves, purple pea flowers and stems with matted hairs. It grows in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia ...

'' Sweet (S.A., N.S.W., Vic.) * ''

Hovea ramulosa ''Hovea'' is a genus of about forty species of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae, and is endemic to Australia. Plants in this genus are sub-shrubs, shrubs or small trees with simple leaves and purple, blue or mauve flowers with a white ...

'' A. Cunn. ex Lindl. (Qld., N.S.W.) * ''

Hovea rosmarinifolia ''Hovea rosmarinifolia'', commonly known as mountain beauty or rosemary hovea is a shrub in the family Fabaceae, native to Australia. A small shrub bearing attractive blue-purple or mauve pea flowers from August to November. Description ''Hovea ...

'' A. Cunn. – mountain beauty (N.S.W., Vic.) * '' Hovea similis'' I. Thomps. (Qld., N.S.W.) * ''

Hovea speciosa ''Hovea speciosa '' is a flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, endemic to eastern Australia. It has purple pea flowers, linear leaves with long, rusty hairs on the lower surface. It is endemic to New South Wales. Description ''Hovea speciosa' ...

'' I. Thomps. (N.S.W.) * ''

Hovea stricta ''Hovea stricta'' is a flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small, upright shrub with mostly purple flowers, green needle-shaped leaves and flowering occurs in winter and spring. ...

'' Meissner (W.A.) * '' Hovea tasmanica'' I. Thomps. & J. H. Ross (Tas.) * ''

Hovea tholiformis ''Hovea'' is a genus of about forty species of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae, and is endemic to Australia. Plants in this genus are sub-shrubs, shrubs or small trees with simple leaves and purple, blue or mauve flowers with a white ...

'' I. Thomps. (Qld.) * '' Hovea trisperma'' Benth. – common ''Hovea'' (W.A.)

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2714213 Fabaceae genera Fabales of Australia Taxa named by Robert Brown (botanist, born 1773) Endemic flora of Australia