Hovea acutifolia
Plant Number: 39
Common Name: Pointed Leaf Hovea
Scientific Name: Hovea acutifolia
Derivation of name
Hovea – after Anton Hove, a botanical collector
acutifolia – is from a Latin word, 'acutus' meaning pointed and 'folius' a leaf, referring to the leaves which taper to a point
Description
- Is a shrub to 2 metres in height which is found in wet and dry forests and rainforest margins in south-east Queensland to the central coast of New South Wales
- The dark green leaves have fine golden hairs on the lower leaf when inspected closely with purple pea flowers which consist of 4 petals
- The mature seeds pods explode with a clicking sound on hot dry days
Fauna use
The plant attracts birds, wasps, bees, butterflies and a wide variety of insects and spiders.
Acknowledgment: Australian Native Plants Society ANPSA