Mackinlaya confusa is a plant in the carrot, fennel and parsley family Apiaceae that is endemic to Queensland, Australia.

The compound leaves are held on petioles up to 25 cm (10 in) long, with 5–7 leaflets arranged around a common attachment point (i.e. they are palmate).

[4][5][6] The inflorescence is terminal and takes the form of an umbel of umbels of umbels - that is, a number of stalks of equal length emanate from a single point on the plant, which in turn branch from a common point into more stalks, and these finally branch into a number of flower stalks (pedicels), again of common length and attachment point, and each carrying a single flower.

[5][8] The species epithet confusa is from the Latin confusus meaning confused, and is a reference to the complex branching (i.e. three times umbellate) of the inflorescence.

[5] This species is endemic to Queensland and is found from the top of Cape York Peninsula, southwards along the east coast to Hinchinbrook Island.