Lessertia argentea

    Lessertia argentea
    Author: Ivan Lätti
    Photographer: Thabo Maphisa

    Lessertia argentea, sometimes called the silver bubblepod, in Afrikaans commonly the strandertjiesbos (strand peas bush) and previously scientifically L. villosa, is a sprawling perennial reaching heights from 30 cm to 50 cm. Several, little-branched stems spread more than they ascend.

    The species distribution is limited, from Paternoster to False Bay. The photo was taken at Tietiesbaai, also known as the Cape Columbine Nature Reserve.

    The habitat is dune strandveld and sandy fynbos flats. The range restricted species is considered to be endangered in its habitat early in the twenty first century, due to habitat loss from urban and coastal development as well as invasion by alien vegetation (Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).

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