Hovea nana

Hovea nana
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Genus: Hovea
Species:
H. nana
Binomial name
Hovea nana
I.Thomps. & J.H.Ross[1]

Hovea nana is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to Queensland, Australia. It is a subshrub with trailing stems, very narrowly elliptic to strap-shaped leaves, mauve flowers and a sessile pod.

Description

Hovea nana is a subshrub with trailing stems and that typically grows to a height of up to 50 cm (20 in), many parts covered with grey hairs. The leaves are very narrowly elliptic or strap-shaped to linear, 15–45 mm (0.59–1.77 in) long and 2–3.3 mm (0.079–0.130 in) wide with stipules 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) long at the base. The flowers are usually arranged in pairs, each flower on a pedicel 1.5–1.8 mm (0.059–0.071 in) long, with a narrowly egg-shaped bracts and bracteoles 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) long at the base. The sepals are 4.5–5.2 mm (0.18–0.20 in) long and joined at the base, forming a tube 2.2–2.5 mm (0.087–0.098 in) long, the upper lip 3.5–4.0 mm (0.14–0.16 in) wide. The petals are mauve, the standard petal about 9 mm (0.35 in) long with a central yellow "flare", the wings 3.0–3.5 mm (0.12–0.14 in) wide. Flowering occurs in most months and the pods are sessile and densely hairy, the seed with an aril 2.8 mm (0.11 in) long.[2]

Taxonomy

Hovea nana was first formally described in 2001 by Ian R. Thompson and James Henderson Ross in Australian Systematic Botany from specimens collected 1 km (0.62 mi) north of Herberton in 1983.[3] The specific epithet (nana) means 'dwarf'.[4]

Distribution and habitat

This species of pea grows on rocky hillsides in woodland near Herberton.[2]

Conservation status

Hovea nana is listed as of "least concern" under the Queensland Government Nature Conservation Act 1992.[5]

References

  1. ^ "Hovea nana". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
  2. ^ a b Thompson, Ian R. "Hovea nana". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
  3. ^ "Hovea nana". APNI. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
  4. ^ George, Alex S.; Sharr, Francis A. (2023). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings - A Glossary (fifth ed.). Kardinya: Four Gables Press. p. 267. ISBN 9780645629538.
  5. ^ "Taxon - Hovea nana". Queensland Government WildNet. Retrieved 6 February 2026.