Mirbelia ovata
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Mirbelia ovata | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Genus: | Mirbelia |
| Species: | M. ovata |
| Binomial name | |
| Mirbelia ovata | |
Mirbelia ovata is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a spreading or prostrate shrub that typically grows to a height of 15–60 cm (5.9–23.6 in) and many branches, covered with woolly or shaggy hairs. Its leaves are egg-shaped, less than 12 mm (0.47 in) long and sharply-pointed. The flowers are arranged in pairs or threes at the base of branches and are yellow or orange and purple and appear from August to October.[2][3] It was first formally described in 1844 by Carl Meissner in Lehmann's Plantae Preissianae.[4][5] The specific epithet (ovata) means "wider below the middle".[6]
This mirbelia grows on undulating plains in the Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest, Mallee and Warren bioregions of south-western Western Australia, and is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.[2]