Mirbelia depressa E.Pritz.

Scientific Description

Erect, shrub, spindly shrub (broom-like). Stems terete, spiny at least in part, hairy; pustules or glands absent. Leaves or phylloclades clearly present, simple, whorled, not continuous with stem, 3-5.4 mm long, 0.6-1 mm wide, hairy, with simple hairs, flat with flat margins; margins entire; tubercles absent; pustules or glands absent. Stipules present but early deciduous ( only visible on youngest leaves ). Pedicel present, 1.5-2 mm long, hairy. Bracteoles present and persistent. Calyx 3.6-4 mm long, not accrescent, hairy, with simple hairs, ribless; pustules or glands absent. Corolla 7-9 mm long, multicoloured, mostly yellow, red, orange or brown, with some yellow, red, orange or brown spots, streaks or blotches; claws absent; standard 6-8.4 mm long, glabrous, not auriculate, wings 5.4-6 mm long, not auriculate, keel 5-6 mm long, not beaked, not auriculate, glabrous. Stamens ten, at two different levels (filaments alternately long and short); filaments free (or united at the very base), 3-4.5 mm long. Ovary stipitate, hairy or glandular; style 4.7-5 mm long, hairy or glandular towards the base, not bearded, terete. Fruit dehiscent (a pod or follicle), stipitate, not constricted between the seeds, round in cross-section, not beaked. Flowers in August, September and October. Occurs in the Eremaean and South-West Botanical Province, in the Gibson Desert, Yalgoo, Murchison, Great Victorian Desert, Coolgardie, Geraldton Sandplains, Avon Wheatbelt, Mallee and Esperance IBRA regions.