Muraltia heisteria flowers

Muraltia flowers may at first glance appear as if the plant should belong in the Fabaceae or pea family, but they form part of the Polygalaceae or milkworts.

The short-stalked, purplish flowers with white side-petals suggest that this is Muraltia heisteria, although the leaf form resembles M. vulpina to some extent. The flowers grow from leaf axils. M. heisteria flowers are about 8 mm by 5 mm. Bloomtime is from before midspring to early summer.

The stems of M. heisteria are sparsely branched and finely hairy when young. The leaves are small and prickly, growing in fascicles (Curtis-Scott, et al, 2020; Manning, 2007; Bean and Johns, 2005; iNaturalist; https://pza.sanbi.org).