Hovea pungens Benth.
Devil's Pins

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 spiny at least in part. 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 incurved margins (conduplicate) or strongly recurved, appearing terete but with one or two grooves below, Margins of leaf or leaflet entire, Tuberculate tubercles absent, Pustules or glands absent. Length Leaf length 10-30. Width (entire leaves only) Leaf width 1-2.7. Scale leaves length mm long NaN (?). Indumentum Presence hairy, Type simple. Stipules Presence apparently absent even from the youngest leaves or present and persistent to older leaves, Glands without glands, Ribs ribless. Length Stipule length 4.2-5. Bracteoles Presence present and persistent, Indumentum hairy, Striation not striate. Length Bracteole length 3.6-4.2. Pedicel Presence present, Indumentum hairy. Length Pedicel length 5-9. Calyx Pustules or glands absent, Ribs ribless, Enlarged in fruit not accrescent. Length Calyx length 6-7.2. 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 12.5-18.5. Indumentum Presence absent. Standard Indumentum glabrous, Auricles not auriculate. Length Standard length 10-17.5. Wings Auricles not auriculate. Length Wing length 9.5-15. Keel Auricles not auriculate, Indumentum glabrous, Beak not beaked. Length Keel length 7-7.5. Stamens Number ten. Anthers anther length 0.4-0.5, 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 6-7.6. Ovary Placement stipitate. Indumentum Presence glabrous. Style Indumentum glabrous, Bearded ( with a tuft of hairs at apex ) not bearded, Apex terete. Length Style length 6.5-7.5. 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 NaN (?). Width Fruit width NaN (?). Indumentum Presence hairy (?) or glabrous (?), Indumentum type with simple hairs (?) or with glandular hairs (?). Flowering time May, June, July, August, September, October or November. Distribution Botanical Province South-West, IBRA Bioregion Geraldton Sandplains, Avon Wheatbelt, Jarrah Forest, Mallee, Warren, Esperance or Swan Coastal Plain.