Pultenaea aculeata

An erect to procumbent shrub, reaching a height to 4 metres tall (often smaller), with spreading hairy stems.

It occurs in a restricted area of NSW, known only from east of Rylstone, with the majority of individuals occurring within Wollemi National Park.

It grows in crevices between sandstone boulders (pagoda rock formations), growing in dry heathlands, with or without a sparse Eucalyptus and/or Callitris canopy.

It is listed as threatened with extinction in the wild and has only been formerly described in 2022.

Pultenaea is a member of the “pea” family. This generally means that leaves are alternate with stipules (leaf-like appendages) at the base of the petioles. Pultenaea spp. however, can sometimes have opposite leaves or leaves in whorls of 3. One of the key features of Pultenaea is that the stipules are fused behind the axillary bud.

In this species, leaves are alternate although crowded, and needle-like / linear and appearing cylindrical (upper surface concealed by rolled-in margins which form a groove); lower surface darker than upper; to 10 mm long by 1 mm wide and with a thin sharp point on the apices; stipules to 3 mm long.

Flowers are, of course, pea-shaped (a term sometimes used is papilionate), with 5 petals in a fixed arrangement; the main back petal is called the “standard”, two lateral petals called “wings” and two fused petals at the bottom called the “keel” (in which the anthers and one carpel tend to be hidden). Pultenaea spp. sometimes have bracts surrounding the inflorescences, and bracteoles attached to the calyx tube or just below on the pedicels (at different locations in different species). These bracteoles can also have accompanying stipules.

In this species, flowers are to about 10 mm long, arranged in dense heads but not purely terminal, surrounded by leaves, bright yellow, with the standard to about 1 cm across, sometimes with red markings; the wings yellow and the keel red;

The fruit of all peas is a pod. In this species, it is swollen, to 6 mm long.