Both surfaces of the leaves have rows of conspicuous oil glands on each side of the mid-vein.

[2][3] Babingtonia urbana was first formally described in 2015 by Barbara Rye and Malcolm Trudgen in the journal Nuytsia from specimens collected west of Mundijong by Greg Keighery in 1992.

[4] The specific epithet (urbana) means "of the city", referring to the species occurring in areas of high human population.

[3] This species grows in wetland mainly between Badgingarra National Park and Mundijong in the Swan Coastal Plain bioregion of south-western Western Australia.

[2][3] Babingtonia urbana is listed as "Priority Three" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions,[2] meaning that it is poorly known and known from only a few locations but is not under imminent threat.