Heliophila pusilla
Scientific classification Edit this 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]

Description

This slender annual grows up to 30 cm (12 in) tall.[2] The hairless stems are be 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]

Subspecies and varieties

Four subspecies and varieties are accepted:[1]

  • Heliophila pusilla var. lanceolata (Adamson) Marais
  • Heliophila pusilla subsp. macrosperma (Marais) Al-Shehbaz
  • Heliophila pusilla subsp. pusilla
  • Heliophila pusilla var. setacea (Schltr.) Marais

Distribution and habitat

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]

Conservation

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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Heliophila pusilla L.f. Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Manning, John; Goldblatt, Peter (2012). Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region : 1: the core Cape flora (PDF). Pretoria: South African National Biodiversity Institute, SANBI. ISBN 978-1-919976-74-7. OCLC 852384288.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 e-Flora of South Africa. v1.36. 2022. South African National Biodiversity Institute. http://ipt.sanbi.org.za/iptsanbi/resource?r=flora_descriptions&v=1.36
  4. ↑ Shaw, Elizabeth A. (1974). "Revisions of Some Genera of Cruciferae Native to Australia". Contributions from the Gray Herbarium of Harvard University (205): 147–162. ISSN 0195-6094.
  5. ↑ Foden, W.; Potter, L. (2005). "Heliophila pusilla L.f. var. pusilla. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1". SANBI Red List of South African Plants. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
  6. ↑ von Staden, L. (2016). "Heliophila pusilla L.f. var. lanceolata (Adamson) Marais. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1". SANBI Red List of South African Plants. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
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