About Pultenaea scabra R.Br.
Taxonomy and Common Name
Pultenaea scabra R.Br. (common name rough bush-pea) is an erect or spreading shrub that usually reaches 1 to 3 meters (3 feet 3 inches to 9 feet 10 inches) in height.
Stem Characteristics
Its stems are covered in dense hairs.
Leaf Shape and Arrangement
Leaves are alternately arranged, shaped from wedge-like to heart-shaped with the narrower end at the base.
Leaf Dimensions
Each leaf measures 3 to 16 millimeters (0.12 to 0.63 inches) long and 2 to 13 millimeters (0.079 to 0.512 inches) wide.
Leaf Stipules
At the base of each leaf are triangular to lance-shaped stipules 1 to 4 millimeters (0.039 to 0.157 inches) long.
Leaf Margin and Apex
Leaf edges curve downward or roll inward, and each leaf ends in a small sharp point.
Inflorescence Arrangement
Flowers are usually arranged in dense clusters of more than three blooms.
Flower Pedicel
Each individual flower grows on a 0.5 to 1 millimeter (0.020 to 0.039 inches) long pedicel.
Flower Bracts and Bracteoles
More or less round bracts 1 to 3 millimeters (0.039 to 0.118 inches) long attach at the flower base, along with hairy bracteoles 3 to 5 millimeters (0.12 to 0.20 inches) long that attach to the base of the sepal tube.
Sepal Dimensions
Sepals measure 4 to 6 millimeters (0.16 to 0.24 inches) long.
Standard Petal
The standard petal is yellow with a red base, and is 7 to 12 millimeters (0.28 to 0.47 inches) long.
Wing Petals
The wing petals are yellow and red, and are shorter than the standard petal.
Keel Petal
The keel petal is dark red to crimson, and around the same length as the wing petals.
Flowering Period
Flowering takes place from September to November.
Fruit Characteristics
The fruit is a flattened, egg-shaped pod 5 to 7 millimeters (0.20 to 0.28 inches) long.
Habitat
This species grows in heathland and forest.
Distribution
It occurs south of Rylstone in New South Wales, in southern Victoria (mainly south and east of the Great Dividing Range), and in the far south-east of South Australia.
