Gorse Bitter-pea - native (Daviesia ulicifolia)

Family: Fabaceae (Pea family).

Native of Australia.

A very common and widespread prickly shrub. The flowers are in shortly-stalked clusters from the leaf bases. Typical height is to about half a metre. As in other Daviesias, the seed pods are triangular.

Identify by:

• the sharp-pointed leaves (the central vein extends to a sharp point)
• the small flowers
• the triangular seed pods.

A form of Gorse Bitter-pea growing west of Newstead has much narrower leaves.

Name: ulicifolia: Gorse-like leaves.

1: Near the summit of One Tree Hill. 2, 4: Castlemaine. 3: Narrow-leaf form from St Arnaud. Dried specimen.

5: Gorse Bitter-pea in pod. The pods are more or less triangular. Photo 5: Max Schlachter.