Hovea species

Family: Fabaceae

Hovea is a shrub with usually hairy stems. The pea flowers are purple with 10 stamens and a densely hairy calyx (sepals).

Until recently there were thought to be two species of Hovea growing in the park, Hovea linearis and Hovea longifolia. It is difficult to distinguish positively between them without close examination of the stem hairs and the postition and shape of the flowers and bracteoles.

A third species Hovea acutifolia was recently discovered in the Congham Creek section of the park and positively identified by the National Herbarium of NSW.

Hovea linearis is the smaller and more common of the two. It is generally less than 50cm, but seldom more than 1m high. It flowers July-August.

Hovea longifolia grows 1.5 to 2.5 m tall. It flowers August - September.

Hovea acutifolia grows up to 4 m high; stems and branches have a dense covering of grey to rusty, curled and crinkled hairs intermixed with longer, straight hairs. Leaves 3–7 cm long, 3–12 mm wide, evenly tapered at apex and base, margins slightly recurved, lower surface rusty-pubescent. It is more commonly found north from the Central Coast of NSW.