Hill Flat-pea - native (Platylobium montanum subsp. montanum)

Family: Fabaceae (Pea family).

Native of Australia.

Hill Flat-pea is small shrublet. It is widespread, but is much more abundant in the forests south of Castlemaine. The flowers are in clusters from the leaf bases.

Identification:

• the large (2-3cm or more) heart-shaped leaves are stalkless and in opposite pairs
• the upper and lower leaf surfaces have a network of veins.

Until 2011, all of the Flat Peas in the district were known as Handsome Flat-pea (Platylobium formosum). This was a varied mix, of heart-shaped, stalkless opposite-leaved shrublets to quite prostrate plants with long-stalked non-opposite leaves. Since then, three forms have been named.

Platylobium montanum subspecies montanum Hill Flat-pea. Shrublet with leaves paired, stalkless, heart-shaped. The common species.

Prostrate Flat-pea. Platylobium montanum subspecies prostratum. Prostrate. Leaves singly or in opposite pairs. Leaves mostly heart-shaped. Uncommon.

Round-leaf Flat-pea Platylobium rotundum. Prostrate. Leaves round, stalked, not paired. Uncommon.

The name montanum was chosen because this flat-pea grows close to the Great Dividing Range.

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