Hovea purpurea, commonly known as velvet hovea,[2] is a flowering plant in the family Fabaceae. It is an upright shrub with narrow leaves, purple pea flowers and stems with matted hairs. It grows in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.
| Velvet hovea | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Genus: | Hovea |
| Species: | H. purpurea
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| Binomial name | |
| Hovea purpurea | |
Description
editHovea purpurea is a shrub to 3 m (9.8 ft) high, stems with brownish to dark grey, short, densely matted, curled or more or less straight, flattened to nearly spreading hairs. The leaves strap like to narrow-elliptic, 1.2–7 cm (0.47–2.76 in) long and 4–17 mm (0.16–0.67 in) wide, flat either side of a recessed midrib, blunt to sharp at the base, margins curved, apex rounded or almost pointed. The leaf upper surface a shiny green, smooth except for hairs on midrib, under surface thickly covered with cream-brown, curly hairs, faintly veined, midrib hairs thick and brown-orange. The inflorescence usually in clusters of 1-3 mauve, purple or occasionally white flowers, bracts broadly egg-shaped to oval, 2.2–3.5 mm (0.087–0.138 in) long and inserted near base of the pedicel that is about 2.5 mm (0.098 in) long. The standard petal is 11.5–17 mm (0.45–0.67 in) long and 10–15 mm (0.39–0.59 in) wide, with darker purple markings and a pale yellow centre, the wing 10.3–15.5 mm (0.41–0.61 in) long and 3.5–4.5 mm (0.14–0.18 in) wide, keel 3.5–4.5 mm (0.14–0.18 in) wide. Flowering occurs from October to December and the fruit is an elliptic shaped pod, 10–17 mm (0.39–0.67 in) long, 8–11 mm (0.31–0.43 in) deep, sessile and moderately covered with pale hairs.[2][3][4][5]
Taxonomy and naming
editHovea purpurea was first formally described in 1827 by Robert Sweet and the description was published in Flora Australasica.[6] The specific epithet (purpurea) means "purple".[7]
Distribution and habitat
editVelvet hovea grows on banks near streams and rocky ledges in forests and woodland. In New South Wales in occurs from Mt Kaputar to the south-eastern corner of the state. In Victoria on the upper Genoa River in East Gippsland and in South Australia at Mount Remarkable.[3][5]
References
edit- ^ "Hovea purpurea". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
- ^ a b Fairley, Alan; Moore, Philip (2010). Native Plants of the Sydney Region. Crows Nest: Jacana Books. p. 184. ISBN 9781741755718.
- ^ a b Murray, Louisa. "Hovea purpurea". PlantNET-NSW flora on line. Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
- ^ Robinson, Les (2003). Field Guide to the Native Plants of Sydney (3rd ed.). Kangaroo Press. p. 81. ISBN 9780994183408.
- ^ a b "Hovea purpurea". VICFLORA-Flora of Victoria. Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
- ^ "Hovea purpurea". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
- ^ Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 287. ISBN 9780958034180.