Description: Erect shrubs or subshrubs; stems often rush-like, terete, often ridged or winged.
Leaves alternate or irregularly opposite or whorled, linear, or absent.
Flowers in terminal or axillary racemes or clusters; bracts and bracteoles caducous. Calyx teeth imbricate, upper 2 united higher up forming a prominent falcate lip. Petals shortly clawed; standard oblate to reniform, apex emarginate; wings ± shorter, oblong; keel usually shortest, straight or curved. Stamens free. Ovary glabrous, stipitate; ovules 2; style incurved, subulate or dilated at the base.
Pods oblique, globose or flattened; seeds 1 or 2, aril present.
Distribution and occurrence: World: 12 spp., endemic Aust.; all States except N.T.
Text by B. Wiecek & L. Murray
Taxon concept:
| | Key to the species | |
| 1 | Calyx and bracteoles darkly dotted; wings longer than and enclosing keel; style with a membraneous wing nearly as broad as long and <1/4 the length of style; shrub usually >100 cm high. | Sphaerolobium vimineum |
| Calyx and bracteoles uniformly lead-grey; wings equal to and exposing keel; style with wing much longer than broad, tapering down from apex to 1/3 to 1/2 the length of the style; shrub usually <50 cm high. | Sphaerolobium minus |
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