Description: Annual or perennial herbs.
Leaves decussate or rosette forming, ± sessile; lamina 1- or 3–5-veined from base; margins entire.
Inflorescence terminal and/or axillary, cymose, often reduced to 1 flower. Flowers bisexual, usually 4-merous. Calyx tube about as long as lobes; lobes 4 or sometimes 2. Corolla urceolate, campanulate or trumpet-shaped, often bearded in mouth; lobes ± valvate in bud. Stamens inserted in lower half of corolla tube. Ovary superior to semi-inferior. Styles 2, usually free at base, connate distally; stigma truncate to 2-lobed.
Fruit a loculicidal capsule, apically 2-horned (persistent bases of styles); seeds many, minute.
Distribution and occurrence: World: c. 40 species, Asia, Malesia, Australia, New Caledonia, New Zealand. Australia: c. 38 species (c. 30 species endemic), all States.
Text by B. J. Conn
Taxon concept:
Taxa not yet included in identification key
Mitrasacme pygmaea
| | Key to the species | |
| 1 | Branches coarsely and densely hirsute, with long, more or less spreading hairs | 2 |
| Branches glabrous or sparsely and shortly hairy; hairs more or less appressed | 3 |
| 2 | Plant prostrate or procumbent; inflorescence 1-flowered | Mitrasacme pilosa |
| Plant erect; inflorescence umbellate, 3–5-flowered
Back to 1 | Mitrasacme polymorpha |
| 3 | Inflorescence 1- or 2-flowered (calyx 4-lobed) | 4 |
| Inflorescence umbellate, 3–5-flowered (calyx 2- or 4-lobed)
Back to 1 | 5 |
| 4 | Flowers almost sessile; corolla c. 2 mm long; perennial herb, prostrate or procumbent | Mitrasacme serpyllifolia |
| Flowers with pedicel up to 12 mm long; corolla 5–7 mm long; annual herb, mostly erect
Back to 3 | Mitrasacme alsinoides |
| 5 | Calyx 2-lobed; corolla 1.8–3.5 mm long, just exserted from calyx, lobes 0.6–1 mm long | Mitrasacme paradoxa |
| Calyx 4-lobed; corolla 3–5 mm long, lobes c. 2 mm long
Back to 3 | Mitrasacme paludosa |
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