About Mirbelia pungens A.Cunn. ex G.Don
Mirbelia pungens A.Cunn. ex G.Don is an erect or prostrate shrub that usually grows to between 0.3 and 0.5 metres (1 foot 0 inch to 1 foot 8 inches) in height, and has softly hairy stems. Its leaves are linear in shape with a sharp point, most ranging from 8 to 15 millimetres (0.31 to 0.59 inches) long and around 1 millimetre (0.039 inches) wide, borne on a petiole that is up to 0.5 millimetres (0.020 inches) long. The flowers are arranged either singly or in groups of up to four in leaf axils, growing on a peduncle that is up to around 1 millimetre (0.039 inches) long. The sepals are 2.5 to 4.0 millimetres (0.098 to 0.157 inches) long, softly hairy, and joined at the base, with sepal lobes shorter than the sepal tube. The standard petal is orange-red with blue or purple markings, the keel is purplish, and it is nearly as long as the wings. Flowering takes place from September to November, and the fruit is an oval pod around 3 millimetres (0.12 inches) long. This species of mirbelia grows in stony areas within heath habitat, and is widespread across south-eastern Queensland, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, and the far north-east of Victoria.
