Gompholobium grandiflorum Sm.

Scientific Nomenclature and Growth Form

Gompholobium grandiflorum Sm. is an erect, more or less hairless shrub that usually grows between 1 and 2 meters (3 feet 3 inches to 6 feet 7 inches) tall.

Stem Characteristics

It has smooth stems that are often covered in small warts.

Leaf Structure

Its leaves are trifoliate, made up of three narrow, linear leaflets that measure 11 to 33 millimeters (0.43 to 1.30 inches) long and 0.5 to 1.6 millimeters (0.020 to 0.063 inches) wide.

Leaflet Morphology

Each leaflet ends in a sharp point, and its edges curve downward or roll under.

Flower Arrangement

The flowers are 15 to 25 millimeters (0.59 to 0.98 inches) long, and arranged singly or in small groups at the ends of branches.

Flower Pedicel

Each flower sits on a stalk called a pedicel that can grow up to 7 millimeters (0.28 inches) long.

Sepal Size

The sepals are about 12 millimeters (0.47 inches) long.

Flower Coloration

The large upper petal (standard) and side petals (wings) are lemon-yellow, while the lower fused petal (keel) is greenish.

Flowering Period

Flowering can happen in almost any month of the year, but occurs mainly in spring.

Fruit Characteristics

The fruit is an oval pod that grows up to 15 millimeters (0.59 inches) long.

Common Name and Habitat

This species, commonly known as large wedge-pea, grows in forest and heath habitats on sandstone soils.

Distribution Range

It is found on the coast and adjacent tablelands of New South Wales in Australia, between Gosford and Jervis Bay, and extends inland as far as the Blue Mountains.