Muraltia minuta
Muraltia minuta (mini purple gorse) is a flowering plant in the milkwort family (Polygalaceae). It is endemic to rocky flats to about 100 metres (330 ft) above sea level in the south-western Cape Province, South Africa.[1][2][3][4]
| Muraltia minuta | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Polygalaceae |
| Genus: | Muraltia |
| Species: | M. minuta |
| Binomial name | |
| Muraltia minuta | |
It is a perennial erect or spreading subshrub with a height between 6 and 20 centimetres (2.4 and 7.9 in) and branches mainly at its base.[1][2] The plant's clustered leaves are softly-haired and have sharp tips. It produces pink flowers which are stalkless, the calyx is at least half the length of the corolla.[1][5] It is categorised on the Red List of South African Plants as Endangered due to invasive species and habitat loss.[6]
Muraltia minuta was first written about by Margaret Levyns in 1954 in the Journal of South African Botany.[7] It was named "minuta", the Latin word for "small", in reference to the plant's small size.[1]
References
- Hermanus Botanical Society. "Muraltia minuta". Fernkloof Nature Reserve. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
- "Muraltia minuta Levyns". www.ville-ge.ch. Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques Ville de Geneve. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
- "Muraltia minuta Levyns". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanical Gardens Kew. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
- https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/590359-Muraltia-minuta
- Strelitzia 29 PLANTS OF THE GREATER CAPE FLORISTIC REGION 1: The Core Cape Flora 2012 by John Manning and Peter Goldblatt
- South African National Biodiversity Institute. "Muraltia minuta Levyns". Red List of South African Plants. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
- "Muraltia minuta". International Plant Names Index. Royal Botanical Gardens Kew. Retrieved June 30, 2020.