Description: Shrubs, often with several stems arising from a woody rootstock; branches terete or flat, mostly ridged, occasionally spinescent.
Leaves alternate, mostly simple or reduced to scales, often with a mass of glandular processes in axils; stipules minute, larger and spinescent or absent.
Flowers 1 to several in axils, subtended by a basal bract and a few small scales; bracteoles at or above middle of pedicel. Calyx with upper 2 teeth ± united, broader than other 3 teeth. Standard usually ± circular, clawed, reflexed; wings and keel narrow. Stamens monodelphous, tube split on upper side; anthers alternatively basifixed and dorsifixed. Ovary few- to several-ovuled, glabrous.
Pod compressed; seeds compressed with a small hilum surrounded by a collar-like aril.
Distribution and occurrence: World: 11 species, endemic Australia. Australia: all mainland States.
Text by T. A. James
Taxon concept:
| | Key to the species | |
| 1 | Shrubs apparently leafless, leaves reduced to scales | 2 |
| Shrubs with some leaves | 3 |
| 2 | Branches distinctly flat, rarely more or less terete, mostly 3–5 mm wide, tips rigid and sharply pointed; calyx teeth 4 | Templetonia sulcata |
| Branches terete, mostly 1–3 mm wide, tips blunt, more or less lax; calyx teeth 5
Back to 1 | Templetonia egena |
| 3 | Stipules spinescent, recurved, 2–10 mm long | Templetonia aculeata |
| Stipules not spinescent, triangular, c. 1 mm long
Back to 1 | Templetonia stenophylla |
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