Hovea montana, commonly known as alpine hovea, mountain hovea or alpine rusty-pods, 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. Description Hovea montana is a small, low growing shrub usually high and in diameter. The stems and branches are thickly covered with soft, loosely flattened hairs. The leaves are narrow-elliptic shaped, mostly long and 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 long on a peduncle about long. The calyx is long with rusty-coloured, short, matted hairs. Flowering occurs from October to December and the fruit is a pod about long and densely covered with rusty-coloured hairs. Taxonomy and naming Hovea montana was first formally described in 1988 by J.H.Ross and the description was published in Muelleria. The specific epithet (montana) refers to mountains or coming from mountains. Distribution and habitat Alpine rusty-pods is mostly found in open heath, woodlands and grassy situations at higher altitudes in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. References montana Flora of New South Wales Flora of Tasmania Flora of Victoria (Australia)