Mirbelia rubiifolia

Mirbelia rubiifolia
Heath Mirbelia at Morton National Park, Australia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Subfamily:	Faboideae
Tribe:	Mirbelieae
Genus:	Mirbelia
Species:	M. rubiifolia
Binomial name
Mirbelia rubiifolia (Andr.) G.Don
Synonyms
Pultenaea rubiifolia Andr. Mirbelia reticulata Sm.

Mirbelia rubiifolia is a small and spreading shrub in the family Fabaceae. Heath Mirbelia is endemic to Australia. It is found in sclerophyll forest and woodlands, as well as heath on sandy soils on the coast or tablelands, often in areas liable to inundation. Distribution is from Croajingolong National Park in Victoria northward to Queensland.^[1][2]

Mirbelia rubiifolia was first described as Pultenaea rubiaefolia by Henry Charles Andrews in 1804. It had been taken to England and cultivated in Hammersmith in 1792.^[3] James Edward Smith gave it the name of Mirbelia reticulata in 1805 but the name was ruled illegal, but it was later placed in that genus (and gaining its current name in the process) by Scottish botanist George Don in 1832.^[4] Its species name is derived from the resemblance of its leaves to those of the genus Rubus.^[5]

A ground hugging plant, Mirbelia rubiifolia seldom reaches more than 30 cm (12 in) tall. The pointed leaves are arranged in threes, mostly 1 to 2.5 cm (0.4-1 in) long and 2 to 4 mm wide. The leaves are made conspicuous by the prominent leaf veins on the upper surface. Attractive purple or pink flowers form in spring between September to December. Rare occurrences of white flowers have been recorded. The fruit is an egg-shaped pod, around 5 mm long.^[6]

Mirbelia rubiifolia is rarely cultivated, but adapts well to a part-shaded spot in a subtropical garden. Supplementary water in dry spells is beneficial. It can be an untidy and scrambling shrub which can look better with pruning.^[5]

Heath Mirbelia at Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Australia

References

1. ^ Alan Fairley – Wildflowers of Sydney & adjoining areas ISBN 187647338X page 204
2. ^ Wild Plants of Victoria (database). Viridans Biological Databases & Department of Sustainability and Environment. 2009. 
3. ^ "Pultenaea rubiifolia Andrews". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. http://www.anbg.gov.au/cgi-bin/apni?taxon_id=7449. 
4. ^ "Mirbelia rubiifolia (Andrews) G.Don". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. http://www.anbg.gov.au/cgi-bin/apni?taxon_id=43496. 
5. ^ ^{a b} Eliot RW, Jones DL, Blake T (1993). Encyclopaedia of Australian Plants Suitable for Cultivation: Volume 6 (K-M). Port Melbourne: Lothian Press. pp. 430–31. ISBN 0-85091-589-9. 
6. ^ "Mirbelia rubiifolia". PlantNET - NSW Flora Online. http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Mirbelia~rubiifolia. Retrieved 2010-08-14.