Golden glory pea

Appearance

"Gompholobium latifolium" is an erect, glabrous shrub which grows to a height of 3 m. Its leaves are composed of three linear to lance-shaped leaflets which are mostly 25–50 millimetres long and 2–6 millimetres wide. The leaves have a very short stalk and are darker on the upper surface.

The flowers are yellow and are arranged singly or in groups of up to three in leaf axils or on the ends of the branches on a stalk about 10 millimetres long. The five sepals are about 12 millimetres long and are only joined near their base. They are lance-shaped, dark green and glabrous on the outside and covered with flattened, matted hairs on the inside. The "standard" petal at the back of the flower is 20–30 millimetres long and the keel is sometimes greenish but is always densely hairy along its edge with the hairs up to 1 millimetre long. Flowering mostly occurs from September to November and is followed by the fruit which is an oval to roughly spherical legume up to 18 millimetres long and 10 millimetres wide containing twelve to fifteen brownish, kidney-shaped seeds.

Naming

"Gompholobium latifolium" was first formally described in 1805 by James Edward Smith and the description was published in "Annals of Botany". The specific epithet is from the Latin words "latus" meaning "broad":166 and "folium" meaning "a leaf" :466 referring to the broad leaves.

Distribution

Golden glory pea grows in dry sclerophyll forest in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria in sandy soil. It is most common in New South Wales where it is widespread along the coast and nearby ranges. It is uncommon in Victoria.

Habitat

Golden glory pea grows in dry sclerophyll forest in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria in sandy soil. It is most common in New South Wales where it is widespread along the coast and nearby ranges. It is uncommon in Victoria.

Cultural

Although a desirable species with its large yellow pea flowers, "G. latifolium" is uncommon in gardens. It can be propagated easily from seed but viable seeds are often hard to obtain. The seeds must be boiled or scratched before they will germinate.