Podalyria calyptrata flowers

The waterblossom pea is one of the very attractive Western Cape coastal shrubs or small trees. It is a favourite garden plant in the winter rainfall area, best grown from seed. 

The calyptrata specific name is derived from the Greek word calyptra meaning a womans veil or mantle, referring to the unique hoods or sheaths formed by the broad bracts positioned like caps over the flower buds and breaking away as the buds swell (Manning, 2009; Bean and Johns, 2005; Andrew, 2017).