mattamrenner's Identifications

Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Family: Fabaceae
Genus: Pultenaea
Species: Pultenaea glabra (smooth bush pea)

Observations:

• The smooth bush pea is part of the Fabaceae family. Though the Fabaceae family is a very large and varied family, this particular species belongs to it as it is a flowering plant and was found in a dry sclerophyll forest area in the Blue Mountains (which is a key characteristic of plants in the Fabaceae family).
• The smooth bush pea is a shrub, which is another a characteristic of the Fabaceae family. Bushy shrubs are also a characteristic of the genus Pultenaea.
• This species is in the genus Pultenaea as it is native to Australia and as aforementioned, a bushy shrub. All species in the Pultenaea genus look very similar, as they all have small yellow/orange flowers arranged in an inflorescence.
• Another characteristic of the Pultenaea genus is that stipules are present, and the leaves are always in a simple arrangement. Both characteristics are present in this species (as described on the Australian Native Plants Society website).
• The flowers on the smooth bush-pea are terminal.
• Though all species in the Pultenaea genus are very similar visually, they are able to be distinguished through the shape of their leaves. Pultenaea glabra have leaves which are small and narrowly ovate, arranged alternately.
  
• This is a rare find, as the plant is classed as vulnerable in NSW. It grows at mid to high altitudes of the Blue Mountains.