[5] Carmichaelia australis has distinguishing morphological structures allowing for easy identification due to the design of its stems, its flowers and colour formations.

[5] The New Zealand Broom pods are oblong shaped with a grey, brown or black external appearance.

[7] These seeds are oblong, or bean shaped and vary in colour between orange, red and green, sometimes with black mottling.

[9] The present geographical distribution of Carmichaelia species indicates the common ancestor must have been on the landmass that broke away to form New Zealand.

[12] Carmichaelia australis occupies a vast range of habitats in New Zealand with a broad realised niche.

[4] The optimal habitats for growth are coastlines, low-lying areas, montane river terraces, riverbanks, colluvium inclines, throughout tussock grasslands, on thick bush edges, around swamps and amidst rock outcrops.

[11]Carmichaelia australis typically occurs in most habitats except on cliff faces and poor pioneer land.

These organisms which interact with Carmichaelia australis are mites, beetles, aphids, moths and butterflies, flies, sucking bugs, and bees.

Mites use Carmichaelia australis as a host plant; they interact with the shrub through consuming it and forming webbing between branches.

[15] Megaoura stufkensi is a newly discovered species of aphid that uses C. australis as a host plant, feeding on the shrub’s young growth.

[16] Butterflies and moths lay eggs on this species and their caterpillars feed on the shrub’s leaves.

[17] This integrated approach is expressed within the Māori linguistics of the New Zealand fauna and flora, with the endemic Carmichaelia australis being compared to a human.

In the Māori culture, this species is referred to having no heart and a bad man is compared to it – E rito koe ki te taunoka.

[17] Carmichaelia solandri G.Simpson is accepted as a different species by ILDIS,[19] but not by Plants of the World Online,[3] nor by Allan (1961),[10] nor Heenan (1996).