[2] Carmichaelia juncea was first identified botanically by the British explorer and botanist Sir Joseph Hooker.

In 1839 he joined the Antarctic expedition led by Sir James Ross as assistant surgeon and naturalist on board the Erebus.

[5] Carmichaelia juncea is a low growing prostrate shrub that forms a sprawling mat (20 cm (7.9 in) high and up to 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) wide), looking very like a clump of dying rushes.

At Franz Josef heavy browsing by hares has almost completely prevented seed production in mature plants.

Carmichaelia juncea is most closely related to C. compacta and C. curta although it is easily distinguishable by its prostrate habit.