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Hovea elliptica (Sm.) DC.
Tree Hovea

Reference
Prodr. 2:115 (1825)
Conservation Code
Not threatened
Naturalised Status
Native to Western Australia
Name Status
Current

Slender, erect shrub or tree, (0.4-)0.6-3 m high. Fl. blue-purple/white, Aug to Dec. Laterite, gravel, clay loam, sandy loam, sandy soils. Rocky slopes, granite outcrops, stabilized sand dunes, slopes, ridges.

Grazyna Paczkowska, Descriptive Catalogue, 19 June 1996
Image

Scientific Description

Genus Hovea. Form erect. Habit shrub, spindly shrub (broom-like). Stems Indumentum hairy, Pustules or glands absent, Striation (stems ribbed) not striate, Cross section terete, Spiny on any part of plant not spiny. Leaves or phylloclades Presence clearly present, Position alternate, Leaves simple, Leaves or phylloclade continuous with stem not continuous with stem, Cross section of leaf or leaflet flat with flat margins, Margins of leaf or leaflet entire, Tuberculate tubercles absent, Pustules or glands absent. Length Leaf length 30-100. Width (entire leaves only) Leaf width 6-35. Scale leaves length mm long NaN (?). Indumentum Presence glabrous. Stipules Presence apparently absent even from the youngest leaves or present and persistent to older leaves, Glands with glands (?) or without glands (?), Ribs ribbed (?) or ribless (?). Length Stipule length NaN (?). Bracteoles Presence present and persistent, Indumentum hairy, Striation not striate. Length Bracteole length 1.5-2. Pedicel Presence present, Indumentum hairy. Length Pedicel length 6-6.5. Calyx Pustules or glands absent, Ribs ribless, Enlarged in fruit not accrescent. Length Calyx length 5-6.5. Indumentum Presence hairy, Type with simple hairs. Corolla Colour patterning multicoloured, Colour (when multicoloured - choose one colour) purple or blue, Colour (when multicoloured - choose a second colour) purple or blue, Petal claws ( the narrow base of the petals present. Length Corolla length 11-17. Indumentum Presence absent. Standard Indumentum glabrous, Auricles not auriculate. Length Standard length 10.2-15. Wings Auricles not auriculate. Length Wing length 8-11. Keel Auricles not auriculate, Indumentum glabrous, Beak not beaked. Length Keel length 7.2-8.5. Stamens Number ten. Anthers anther length 0.5-0.8, Position all at the same level (filaments all the same loength) or at two different levels (filaments alternately long and short). Filaments Fusion united in an open sheath with one free stamen. Length Filament length 5-6.5. Ovary Placement stipitate (?) or sessile or subsessile (?). Indumentum Presence glabrous. Style Indumentum glabrous, Bearded ( with a tuft of hairs at apex ) not bearded, Apex terete. Length Style length 7.5-8. Fruit Type dehiscent (a pod or follicle), Constriction not constricted between the seeds, Compression round in cross-section, Placement stipitate or sessile or subsessile, Beak not beaked. Length Fruit length 8-12. Width Fruit width 6-7. Indumentum Presence glabrous. Flowering time August, September, October, November or December. Distribution Botanical Province South-West, IBRA Bioregion Avon Wheatbelt, Jarrah Forest, Warren, Esperance or Swan Coastal Plain.

C. Hollister and K.R. Thiele, 17 April 2024

Distribution

IBRA Regions
Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest, Swan Coastal Plain, Warren.
IBRA Subregions
Fitzgerald, Perth, Southern Jarrah Forest, Warren.
IMCRA Regions
Leeuwin-Naturaliste, WA South Coast.
Local Government Areas (LGAs)
Albany, Augusta Margaret River, Bridgetown-Greenbushes, Busselton, Cranbrook, Denmark, Donnybrook-Balingup, Gnowangerup, Jerramungup, Manjimup, Nannup, Plantagenet.