Platylobium formosum

Taxobox
name = Handsome Flat-pea

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image_width = 240px
image_caption =
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Fabales
familia = Fabaceae
subfamilia = Faboideae
tribus = Bossiaeeae
genus = "Platylobium"
species = "P. formosum"
binomial = "Platylobium formosum"
binomial_authority = Sm.
synonyms="Platylobium formosum" var. "cordifolium"

"Platylobium formosum", also known as Handsome Flat-pea, is a shrub which is endemic to Australia . It is a member of the family Fabaceae and of the genus "Platylobium".

Description

The species is an erect or straggling shrub with wiry stems which usually grows to a height of between 1 to 2 metres. The leaves are opposite with very short, almost unnoticeable petioles. The leaf surface has a pronounced reticulation of veins on the surface and is dark green above and lighter below. The leaf size ranges from 2 to 5 cm in length and 1 to 2.3 cm in width.NSW Flora Online|author= |genus=Platylobium |species=formosum ] cite book|author=Costermans, L.| title=Native Trees and Shrubs of South-eastern Australia |publisher=Rigby|location=Australia | year=1981 | id=ISBN 072701403x ]

The flowers appear in spring, between September and November in their native range. These are orange-yellow with a red centre, with red markings in the centre, on the tip of the keel and on the back of the standard. and are supported by a long stalk which is covered by hairs and arises from the leaf axil. The pods which follow are flat, glabrous or hairy and about 2 to 4 cm in length.

Taxonomy

The species was first formally described by botanist James Edward Smith in 1793 in "A Specimen of the Botany of New Holland". The specific epithet "formosum" is derived from the Latin word for "beautiful".

The are currently two recognised subspecies:
*"Platylobium formosum" Sm. subsp. "formosum"
*"Platylobium formosum" subsp. "parviflorum" (Sm.) A.T.Lee, which has a narrower leaf which does not have the cordate base of subsp. "formosum" .cite web |url=http://www.anbg.gov.au/cgi-bin/apni?TAXON_NAME=PLATYLOBIUM+FORMOSUM|title= "Platylobium formosum" |accessdate=2007-10-08 |format= |work= Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database|publisher = Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra ]

Distribution

This species is found in Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. It is common and widespread in habitats ranging from heathland to rainforest margins.

References

External links