| Heliophila pusilla | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Brassicales |
| Family: | Brassicaceae |
| Genus: | Heliophila |
| Species: | H. pusilla |
| Binomial name | |
| Heliophila pusilla | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
Ormiscus pusillus(L.f.) Eckl. & Zeyh. (1835) | |
Heliophila pusilla, the dainty sunspurge, is a species of plant in family Brassicaceae. It is endemic to the Cape Provinces of South Africa. [1]
This slender annual grows up to 30 cm (12 in) tall. [2] The hairless stems are soft and wiry or flaccid. [3] The leaves are thread-like or lance shaped, with the widest portion near the tip. [2] They are 5–35 mm (0.20–1.38 in) long and 3–15 mm (0.12–0.59 in) wide. [3]
Flowers are present between August and October, forming dense racemes. [2] [3] They range from white to mauve in colour. [2] The petals, which range from 2 to 6 mm (0.079 to 0.236 in) in length, sometimes have basal appendages. [3] They have 3-12 ovules.
The fruits have a submoniliform shape and are 5–18 mm (0.20–0.71 in) long. [2] The bead-like structures are either continuous or joined by narrow waists. [3]
Four subspecies and varieties are accepted: [1]
The dainty sunspurge is found growing between the Kouebokkeveld Mountains and De hoop in South Africa. [2] It has also been introduced in Australia. [4] It prefers clay soils. [2]
Although the species as a whole is considered to be of least concern, Heliophila pusilla var. lanceolata is considered to be rare. [5] [6] It is found in damp, sheltered areas on south- and west-facing slopes on Karbonkelberg, Chapman's Peak, and the Noordhoek Mountains.
Heliophila is a genus of flowering plants in the family Brassicaceae. Members of this genus are either annuals or perennials and some are popular as ornamental plants. Endemic to southern Africa, the majority of the approximately 80 species grow in South Africa, particularly the Cape Floristic Region, while a few extend into the Namib Desert.
Cassine is a genus of trees, of the plant family Celastraceae.
Moraea aristata is a species of flowering plant in the family Iridaceae. It is referred to by the common names blue-eyed uintjie or Blouooguintjie in Afrikaans.It is endemic to the city of Cape Town and is considered to be critically endangered.
Erica abietina is a species of erica that is endemic to the Cape Peninsula of the Western Cape, South Africa. E. abietina includes four subspecies with often highly restricted distributions and distinctive flower colours. Previous delimitation of the species has included a further three subspecies which proved to be more distantly related to Cape Peninsula endemic E. abietina subspecies and are now classified under Erica grandiflora L.f. and Erica situshiemalis E.G.H.Oliv. & Pirie.
Cyrtanthus ventricosus, commonly called fire lily, is a small deciduous, bulbous plant reaching a height of 100–250 mm (3.9–9.8 in). It is in the amaryllis family, Amaryllidaceae, and is found along the Cape Fold Mountains from the Cape Peninsula, Western Cape, to the Kouga Mountains, Eastern Cape in South Africa.
Oedera calycina is a shrublet belonging to the daisy family. It is found in rocky Fynbos and Renosterveld vegetation, growing in rocky, loamy or sandy soil, in the Western Cape Province and Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.
Heliophila coronopifolia is a species of flowering plant in the genus Heliophila. It is native to the Northern Cape and Western Cape provinces of South Africa.
Ursinia nudicaulis, also known as the longstalk paraseed or the little daisy is a species of plant from South Africa. It belongs to the daisy family.
Athanasia quinquedentata, or the fivetooth kanniedood, is a species of plant from South Africa.
Acrodon subulatus, the Overberg tiptoothfig, is a species of mesemb from South Africa.
Cheiridopsis speciosa is a species of plant from South Africa.
Chasmatophyllum maninum is a species of plant from South Africa.
Anaxeton arborescens, the northern paperposy, is a species of plant from South Africa. It grows in the fynbos biome.
Osteospermum burttianum is a species of plant from South Africa.
Hebenstretia lanceolata is a species of plant from South Africa. It belongs to the figwort family.
Romulea hirsuta is a geophyte from South Africa. It has pink flowers with dark marks at the edges of the yellow center.
Heliophila africana, the African sunspurge or little blue mouth, is a species of plant from South Africa.