Prostrate Flat-pea - native (Platylobium montanum subsp. prostratum)

Family: Fabaceae (Pea family).

Native of Australia.

Prostrate Flat-pea is moderately common south of Castlemaine e.g. Fryers Ridge and Humboldt. Its leaf arrangement is variable. On the one plant the leaves may be in opposite pairs, or single. The flowers are in small clusters from the leaf bases.

Identification:

• the leaves are large (2-3cm or more) and heart-shaped
• both paired and single leaves may be present
• the leaves are usually stalked it has a prostrate habit
• the leaf surfaces have a network of veins.

VROTS: poorly known.

The Fryers Ridge - Humboldt area is remarkable for the three kinds of Flat-pea present. They are

• A shrublet. Never prostrate. Hill Flat-pea Platylobium montanum subsp. montanum.
• Prostrate. Some leaves paired, others unpaired. Leaves heart-shaped. Prostrate Flat-pea Platylobium montanum subsp. prostratum.
• Prostrate. Leaves almost circular, stalked, not paired. Round-leaf Flat-pea. Platylobium rotundum.

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