Citation: Smith, Sp. Bot. New Holl. 1:7 (1793).

Derivation: Greek platys, flat; lobos, pod; shape of the fruit.

Synonymy: Not Applicable

Common name: None

Description:
Prostrate shrubs or subshrubs, with 1 to several slender unarmed stems arising from a woody rootstock; leaves opposite or less frequently alternate, 1-foliolate, sessile or petiolate, narrow- to broad- ovate, cordate, hastate, trilobate, cordate-hastate, rarely orbicular, usually the apex and angles pungent-pointed, reticulate-veined; stipules ovate or narrow-ovate, striate, persistent; stipels absent.

Flowers 1 to several, axillary, sessile or pedicellate, subtended by a series of distichous brown-papery scales, the bract indistinguishable from the scales; 2 bracteoles distal on the pedicel, similar to the scales but larger; calyx more or less pubescent throughout; upper 2 teeth greatly enlarged, broadly rounded, usually united for less than half their length; the lower 3 narrow, acute, all persisting in fruit; standard orbicular or reniform on a wide short claw; wings shorter than the standard, rounded; keel equalling the wings; all 10 stamens united by their filaments in a sheath split open on the adaxial side; anthers uniform, dorsifixed, with a broad connective; ovary sessile or stipitate; style curved, slender; stigma small, terminal.

Pods sessile or stipitate, oblong, flat, with a conspicuous flat wing 2-5 mm wide beyond the upper sutural nerve, valves thin, several-seeded; seed ellipsoid or ovate-ellipsoid, plump, with a small hilum on the long side covered by a hooded cap-like aril.

Distribution:  Endemic to southern and eastern Australia with 4 species. (J. H. Ross (1983)Muelleria 5:127-141.)

Biology: No text

Taxonomic notes: Shows similarities with Bossiaea from which it differs in a distinct wing beyond the upper sutural nerve of the pod.

Author: Not yet available