Mirbelia microphylla (Turcz.) Benth.

Scientific Description

Prostrate,spreading or scrambling, 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 mm long, 1-1.3 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, 1.3-2 mm long, hairy. Bracteoles present and persistent, 0.7-1 mm long, hairy, not striate. Calyx 4-5 mm long, not accrescent, hairy, with simple hairs, ribless; pustules or glands absent. Corolla 8-9 mm long, multicoloured, mostly yellow or red, with some yellow or red spots, streaks or blotches; claws absent; standard 8-8.5 mm long, glabrous, not auriculate, wings 6.5-7.5 mm long, not auriculate, keel 6-6.3 mm long, not beaked, not auriculate, glabrous. Stamens ten; anthers 0.4-0.5 mm long, at two different levels (filaments alternately long and short); filaments free (or united at the very base), 4-5.4 mm long. Ovary hairy or glandular; style 5-5.5 mm long, hairy or glandular towards the base, not bearded, terete. Fruit 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 Yalgoo, Murchison, Great Victorian Desert, Coolgardie, Geraldton Sandplains, Avon Wheatbelt, Mallee and Esperance IBRA regions.