Mirbelia oxylobioides

Mirbelia oxylobioides is an erect and spreading shrub in the family Fabaceae. It is endemic to Australia.

Mirbelia oxylobioides
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Subfamily:	Faboideae
(unranked):	Mirbelioids
Genus:	Mirbelia
Species:	M. oxylobioides
Binomial name
Mirbelia oxylobioides F.Muell.[1]

Description

The species grows to three metres in height and has stems covered with soft downy hairs.[2] The pointed leaves are narrow and ovate and arranged in pairs.[2] They are 2 to 10 mm long and 1 to 4 mm wide.[2] The pea flowers are orange-yellow with red markings and are usually produced between October and January in the species' native range.[2] These are followed by down-covered brown pods.[2]

Taxonomy

The species was first formally described by botanist Ferdinand von Mueller in Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae in 1861.[1]

Distribution

The species occurs in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. In the latter state, it is only found in the Heathy Hills Nature Reserve near Elderslie where it is threatened by the effects of drought and the invasion of gorse. Consequently, it is classified as "vulnerable" under Tasmania's Threatened Species Protection Act.[2]

References

1. "Mirbelia oxylobioides". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
2. "Mirbelia oxylobioides" (PDF). Threatened Flora of Tasmania. Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (Tasmania). Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 June 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2009.