Hovea montana
{{Short description|Species of legume}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Speciesbox
|name = Alpine rusty-pods
|image = Hovea montana image.jpg
|image_caption =
|genus = Hovea
|species = montana
|authority = (Hook.f.) J.H.Ross{{cite web |title=Hovea montana |url=https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/apc-format/display/84002 |publisher=Australian Plant Census |access-date=19 July 2021}}
|synonyms = *Hovea purpurea var. montana Hook.f.
- Hovea longifolia var. montana (Hook.f.) J.H.Willis
}}
Hovea montana, commonly known as alpine hovea, mountain hovea or alpine rusty-pods,{{cite book|author1=Corrick, M.G. |author2=Fuhrer, B.A.| title=Wildflowers of Victoria and adjoining areas| publisher=Bloomings Books|location= Australia | year=2001 | isbn=1876473142}} is a flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, and is endemic to Australia. It is a small shrub with narrow leaves and purple pea flowers.{{NSW Flora Online|author=Jones, D.L. |genus=Hovea |species= montana}}
Description
Hovea montana is a small, low growing shrub usually {{cvt|15-40|cm}} high and {{cvt|1-1.5|m}} in diameter. The stems and branches are thickly covered with soft, loosely flattened hairs. The leaves are narrow-elliptic shaped, mostly {{cvt|1-3|cm}} long and {{cvt|2-5|mm}} wide, with a depressed midrib, the margins curved downward. The upper surface smooth and hairless, the lower surface is thickly covered with fine, soft hairs. The purple-blue or white flowers are borne singly or in pairs, about {{cvt|10|mm}} long on a peduncle about {{cvt|2|mm}} long. The calyx is {{cvt|4-5|mm}} long with rusty-coloured, short, matted hairs. Flowering occurs from October to December and the fruit is a pod about {{cvt|10|mm}} long and densely covered with rusty-coloured hairs.{{cite web |last1=Thompson |first1=I.R |title=Hovea montana |url=https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Hovea~montana |website=PlantNET-NSW flora online |publisher=Royal Botanic Garden Sydney |access-date=20 July 2021}}{{cite web |title=Hovea montana |url=https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/flora/taxon/29e7c895-1bd5-4d85-84d6-97721545ada0 |website=VICFLORA-Flora of Victoria |publisher=Royal Botanic Garden Victoria |access-date=20 July 2021}}
Taxonomy and naming
Hovea montana was first formally described in 1988 by J.H.Ross and the description was published in Muelleria.{{cite journal |last1=Ross |first1=J.H. |title=Muelleria |date=1988 |volume=6 |publisher=National Herbarium of Victoria |location=Melbourne |page=427 |edition=6 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/49825871#page/43/mode/1up}} The specific epithet (montana) refers to mountains or coming from mountains.Archibald William Smith {{google books|ahNMkgoNJ7IC|A Gardener's Handbook of Plant Names: Their Meanings and Origins|page=239}}