Mirbelia
(named after C. F. Mirbel, 1776-1854, a distinguished French physiological botanist). Including Dichosema and Oxycladium. ORD. Leguminosae. This genus comprises about sixteen species of greenhouse shrubs, with the habit of Oxylobium or of Chorizema, limited to Australia. Flowers yellow, purple-red, or blue, solitary, or clustered in the axils of the leaves, or in axillary or terminal racemes. Leaves opposite or whorled, rarely alternate, entire or broadly lobed at the top. The species here described are those best known to cultivation. For culture, see Chorizema.
M. dilata (dilated). fl. purplish. May to August. l. cuneiform, dilated and trifid at the apex. h. 3ft. 1803. (B. R. 1041.) M. grandiflora (large-flowered). fl. yellow, having a red zonate mark on the upper side of the vexillum, and streaked with the same on the outer surface, the wings having a red blotch on one side; axillary, twin. May. l. alternate, ovate-lanceolate. h. 1ft. to 2ft. 1823. (B. M. 2771.) M. reticulata (netted). fl. lilac, terminal, capitate, or axillary, verticillate. May to August. l. lanceolate-linear, reticulately veined, quite entire, ending in a stiff mucrone. h. 1ft. to 3ft. 1792. (B. M. 1211.) M. speciosa (showy). fl. purple, disposed in a terminal, interrupted, leafy spike. May to July. l. linear, rather acute, with revolute, quite entire margins. h. 1ft. to 2ft. 1824. (B. R. 1841, 58.)