Description: Shrubs.
Leaves alternate, opposite or often irregularly whorled, simple, entire or with pungent-pointed lobes, margins recurved or revolute; petiole very short; stipules small, bristly, minute or absent.
Inflorescence of axillary or terminal racemes or flowers solitary; flowers sessile or shortly pedunculate; bracts and bracteoles small or absent. Petals clawed; standard circular reniform, emarginate or entire, longer than lower petals; wings oblong; keel broader than the wings and shorter or rarely the same length. Stamens free; anthers uniform. Ovary sessile or stipitate; ovules 2–10 or more; style usually short, incurved; stigma terminal, capitate.
Pod ovoid or oblong, turgid, divided longitudinally into 2 locules by a false septum projecting into the cavity from the lower suture and overlapped by or fused with the projecting placentas; seeds without an aril.
Distribution and occurrence: World: c. 20 species, endemic Australia. Australia: Qld, N.S.W., Vic., N.T., W.A.
Text by M. F. Porteners
Taxon concept:
| | Key to the species | |
| 1 | Leaves 2–10 mm long, apex with a minute, recurved point | Mirbelia oxylobioides |
| Leaves mostly 10–40 mm long, if less then leaves linear, apex more or less pungent-pointed | 2 |
| 2 | Leaves narrow-ovate to ovate, 5–15 mm wide | Mirbelia platylobioides |
| Leaves linear, occasionally oblong or narrow-ovate, 1–5 mm wide
Back to 1 | 3 |
| 3 | Upper surface of leaves conspicuously reticulate | Mirbelia rubiifolia |
| Upper surface of leaves scarcely reticulate, smooth or tuberculate
Back to 2 | 4 |
| 4 | Flowers in terminal racemes or in upper axils; leaves 1.5–3 mm wide | Mirbelia confertiflora |
| Flowers axillary, often solitary; leaves c. 1 mm wide
Back to 3 | 5 |
| 5 | Calyx teeth more or less equal to tube; corolla bluish purple; erect shrub to c. 1 m high | Mirbelia speciosa |
| Calyx teeth shorter than tube; corolla orange-yellow or orange-red with blue or purple markings; erect or prostrate shrub to 0.5 m high
Back to 4 | 6 |
| 6 | Flowers 5–7 mm long; pods c. 3 mm long | Mirbelia pungens |
| Flowers 8–15 mm long; pods c. 6 mm long
Back to 5 | Mirbelia baueri |
|
