There are about 150 species of the Genus Calandrinia, known as parakeelyas, in the world. Australia has about 40 species, of which there are some 11 species within the Northern Territory and Central Australia region.

With eye-catching flowers, some species are so similar that they are difficult to tell apart and can only be identified through the number of petals and stamens, as well as other characteristics of the seeds, stamens, and stigmas.

One of the more commonly seen variety in the region is the Broad-leaf Parakeelya which can be identified by the 5 notched purple petals, the many stamens and 3 stigma branches with a short style.