Pultenaea retusa Sm.

Growth Form

Pultenaea retusa Sm. is an erect shrub that typically grows between 0.5 and 2.0 meters (1 foot 8 inches to 6 feet 7 inches) in height. Young stems of this species are covered in hairs.

Leaf Arrangement

Its leaves are arranged alternately along the stems, and are shaped like a wedge or an egg with the narrower end at the base.

Leaf Morphology

Individual leaves are 5 to 15 millimeters (0.20 to 0.59 inches) long and 2 to 5 millimeters (0.079 to 0.197 inches) wide, with stipules about 1 millimeter (0.039 inches) long at the base, and the leaf tip often has a notch.

Inflorescence

The flowers grow in dense clusters at the ends of branches, and each flower is 5 to 7 millimeters (0.20 to 0.28 inches) long.

Flower Bracts

Each flower sits on a pedicel up to 2 millimeters (0.079 inches) long, with overlapping bracts 2 to 5 millimeters (0.079 to 0.197 inches) long that fall off once the flower opens.

Sepals

The sepals are 3 to 4 millimeters (0.12 to 0.16 inches) long and joined at their base. Narrow egg-shaped bracteoles 2 to 4 millimeters (0.079 to 0.157 inches) long attach to the sides of the sepal tube.

Petal Coloration

The standard petal ranges from yellow to orange and has red markings, and it is 4 to 6 millimeters (0.16 to 0.24 inches) wide. The wing petals are yellow to orange, while the keel is red to purple.

Flowering Period

Flowering takes place from September to November.

Fruit Characteristics

The fruit is a flattened, hairy pod that is 5 to 7 millimeters (0.20 to 0.28 inches) long.

Habitat

This species, commonly known as notched bush-pea, grows in forest and heathland on swampy sites.

Distribution

It occurs on the coast and nearby tablelands of Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria, ranging west as far as Melbourne.