Podalyria calyptrata

Podalyria calyptrata is a small branched tree or shrub of about 2 m in height, rarely 5 m (SA Tree List No. 225). It is commonly called the waterblossom pea and in Afrikaans known as the waterkeurtjie (little water virgilia).

The leaves are simple and alternate with entire margins. The leaf-shape is obovate-elliptic or obovate. Leaves are sparsely hairy on the upper surfaces, but densely covered in silky hairs below, the blade surfaces grey-green to green.

The flowers are showy, mauve to pink in colour with white at the base and sweet scented. The flower shape is similar to that of the pea flower. Flowers grow in leaf axils and may be solitary or occurring in clusters.

The fruit pod may be up to 4 cm in length. The pods are hard, hairy and appear inflated. Some pods have already formed next to the flowers in picture. The seeds have fleshy aril attachments.

The species distribution is in the far southwest of the Western Cape, from the Cape Peninsula as far east as Bredasdorp.

The habitat is marshy ravines and montane, sandstone fynbos, often near streams, at elevations below 1000 m. The species is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).