''Platylobium'' is a
genus
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
of shrubs in the legume family,
Fabaceae
Fabaceae () or Leguminosae,[International Code of Nomen ...](_blank)
. Native to eastern and south eastern
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
, 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 ''
Bossiaea
''Bossiaea'' is a genus of about 78 species of flowering plants in the pea family Fabaceae and is endemic to Australia. Plants in this genus often have stems and branches modified as cladodes, simple, often much reduced leaves, flowers with the ...
'', another genus within the
Mirbelioids
The Mirbelioids are an informal subdivision of the plant family Fabaceae that includes the former tribes Bossiaeeae and Mirbelieae. They are consistently recovered as a monophyletic clade in molecular phylogenies. The Mirbelioids arose 48.4 ± 1. ...
.
The plants within this and other genera of the Mirbelioids are well known. They often have a common name that alludes to the oblongate pod described in the binary name—such as 'flat pea'—or by its exhibition of a yellow, orange, and pinky-red fluorescence—'eggs and bacon' peas. Papery dark brown scales support the banner of the pea's flower, this completes the semblance to a cooked breakfast. These flowers are displayed on rambling branches, sometimes as a short shrub, often extending prostrate. They range inland in coastal regions
Southern and
Eastern Australia
The eastern states of Australia are the states adjoining the east continental coastline of Australia. These are the mainland states of Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, and the island state of Tasmania. The Australian Capital Territor ...
, including
Tasmania
Tasmania (; palawa kani: ''Lutruwita'') is an island States and territories of Australia, state of Australia. It is located to the south of the Mainland Australia, Australian mainland, and is separated from it by the Bass Strait. The sta ...
.
''Platylobium'' is found to have a distinct wing on the pod, this distinguishes the genus from that of ''Bossiaea''. Examination of the ovate leaves, distinction in the brown papery parts near the
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 ...
and diversion in the form of various parts will allow identification of the two species described below.
Species
''Platylobium'' comprises the following species:
F.Muell.
Baron Sir Ferdinand Jacob Heinrich von Mueller, (; 30 June 1825 – 10 October 1896) was a German-Australian physician, geographer, and most notably, a botanist. He was appointed government botanist for the then colony of Victoria (state), Vic ...
— Victorian flat-pea
* '' Platylobium formosum'' Sm.
Sir James Edward Smith (2 December 1759 – 17 March 1828) was an English botanist and founder of the Linnean Society.
Early life and education
Smith was born in Norwich in 1759, the son of a wealthy wool merchant. He started studying botan ...
— Handsome flat-pea
* '' Platylobium infecundum'' I.Thomps.
* '' Platylobium montanum'' I.Thomps.
* ''Platylobium obtusangulum
''Platylobium obtusangulum'', the common flat-pea, is a shrub that is endemic to Australia. It is a member of the family Fabaceae and of the genus '' Platylobium''.
The species is an erect or straggling shrub that can grow up to 1 metre in he ...
'' Hook.
Sir William Jackson Hooker (6 July 178512 August 1865) was an English botanist and botanical illustrator, who became the first director of Kew when in 1841 it was recommended to be placed under state ownership as a botanic garden. At Kew he ...
— Common flat-pea
* '' Platylobium parviflorum'' Sm.
* '' Platylobium reflexum'' I.Thomps.
* '' Platylobium rotundum'' I.Thomps.
* '' Platylobium triangulare'' R.Br. — Ivy flat-pea
References
Further reading
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*
External links
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Fabales of Australia
Fabaceae genera
Endemic flora of Australia
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