About Pultenaea stipularis Sm.
Pultenaea stipularis Sm. is an erect shrub that typically grows to a height of 0.8–2 m (2 ft 7 in – 6 ft 7 in) and has glabrous stems. Its leaves are arranged alternately, shaped linear to narrow elliptic, 15–26 mm (0.59–1.02 in) long and 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) wide. Stipules 7.8–9.3 mm (0.31–0.37 in) long grow at the base of each leaf. Flowers are arranged in dense clusters at the ends of branches, and are 10–15 mm (0.39–0.59 in) long. Each flower sits on a 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) long pedicel, with overlapping bracts at its base. Sepals are 7.5–8.5 mm (0.30–0.33 in) long and joined at the base, and linear to triangular bracteoles 5.7–6.8 mm (0.22–0.27 in) long are attached to the side of the sepal tube. The standard petal is yellow to orange with red markings, 8.5–12.5 mm (0.33–0.49 in) long. The wings are yellow to orange, 8.2–12.3 mm (0.32–0.48 in) long. The keel is yellow to reddish-brown, 8.0–11.2 mm (0.31–0.44 in) long. Flowering occurs from August to November, and the fruit is a pod approximately 6.5 mm (0.26 in) long. This species, commonly called handsome bush-pea, grows in forest and tall heathland between Gosford on the Central Coast and Jervis Bay on the South Coast of New South Wales.
