Botanical name

Muraltia minuta

Family

Polygalaceae

Common Name

Skilpadbossie

Status

Endangered

Description

Erect or spreading subshrub up to 20cm, branching mainly at base. Leaves are stalkless (sessile), clustered, lance-shaped, softly hairy below, sharp-tipped. Flowers are stalkless, pink, in axil of leaf; capsules (seedpods) have stiff bristly hairs with slender horns.

Latin: minuta = small; referring to the small size of plant and flowers.

After: Johannes von Muralt (1645-1733), Swiss surgeon and botanist.

Habitat

Rocky flats

Flower Date

October to February