Gompholobium tomentosum Labill.

Taxon and habit

Gompholobium tomentosum Labill. is an erect shrub that usually grows 0.3 to 1 meter (1 foot 0 inch to 3 feet 3 inches) tall, and has hairy stems.

Leaf characteristics

Its leaves are pinnate, arranged alternately along the branches, and measure 10 to 20 mm (0.39 to 0.79 in) long.

Each leaf has five to seven hairy leaflets that look cylindrical; the edges of the leaflets curve downwards, and one or two grooves run along the lower surface of each leaflet.

Flower color

The flowers of this species are uniformly yellow.

Pedicel and bracteoles

Each individual flower sits on a 3.5 to 4.0 mm (0.14 to 0.16 in) long pedicel, with hairy bracteoles that are 4.6 to 5.5 mm (0.18 to 0.22 in) long attached to the pedicel.

Sepal characteristics

The sepals are hairy, and measure 4.5 to 10.2 mm (0.18 to 0.40 in) long.

Petal dimensions

The standard petal is 11 to 14 mm (0.43 to 0.55 in) long, the wings are 10.5 to 12.5 mm (0.41 to 0.49 in) long, and the keel is 10.0 to 11.2 mm (0.39 to 0.44 in) long.

Flowering period and fruit

Flowering takes place from July to January, and the fruit is a cylindrical pod.

Habitat and distribution

This pea species grows on coastal limestone, sand dunes and plains in the Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains, Geraldton Sandplains, Jarrah Forest, Mallee, Swan Coastal Plain, Warren and Yalgoo biogeographic regions of south-western Western Australia.