Muraltia minuta
Muraltia minuta | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Fabales |
Family: | Polygalaceae |
Genus: | Muraltia |
Species: | M. minuta
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Binomial name | |
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]
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
[edit]- ^ a b c d Hermanus Botanical Society. "Muraltia minuta". Fernkloof Nature Reserve. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
- ^ a b "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.