Hovea longipes Benth.

Bentham, G. (1837) Enumeratio Plantarum : 37. Type: quas in Novae Hollandiae .. Huic speciei habitu similis est altera in collectione Baueriana servata, ita distinguenda: Hovea longipes.

Hovea, Brush; Port Curtis Yellow-wood; Brush Hovea

Grows to a height of about 3 m but usually flowers and fruits when about 1-2 m tall.

Twigs densely clothed in brown hairs. Stipules small and inconspicuous. Leaf blades about 15-50 x 7-20 mm. Lateral veins forming an angle of about 45 with the midrib and forming loops well inside the blade margin. Underside of the leaf blade densely clothed in prostrate brown, medifixed hairs. Midrib depressed on the upper surface. Margin recurved. Petiole grooved on the upper surface.

Calyx about 3-4 mm long, densely clothed in pale brown or golden, medifixed hairs which extend to the inner surface of the calyx lobes. Bracts present at the base of the calyx tube. Standard about 5-6 mm long, shorter than the wings. Anther filaments fused to form a cylinder, open on one side. Longer stamens with basifixed anthers, shorter stamens with dorsifixed anthers. Ovary glabrous, ovules 2.

Fruits laterally compressed, about 10-14 x 12-14 mm, usually wider than long, borne on a distinct stipe with the calyx remnants at the base and style persistent at the apex. Seeds one or two, about 7-8 x 5-6 mm. Radicle small, about 2 mm long.

Cotyledons about 6-10 x 2.5-6 mm, apex obtuse, base sagittate. First pair of leaves obovate, apex rounded, base cuneate, opposite or sub-opposite, lower surface clothed in prostrate matted pale hairs. At the tenth leaf stage: lower surface of leaf blade densely clothed in prostrate, white or pale brown hairs. Stipules brown or brownish, about 1 mm long. Stem and petioles densely clothed in white or pale brown hairs. Seed germination time 14 to 97 days.

Endemic to Australia, occurs in CYP, NEQ, CEQ and southwards as far as coastal central New South Wales. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 600 m. Grows in open forest, heathland and monsoon forest.

This species is of no grazing significance. Hacker (1990).