Heliophila coronopifolia

Heliophila coronopifolia, the showy sunflax, is a slender annual herb with erect stems that may grow to 60 cm in height; sometimes only to 10 cm. The stems are hairy near the base. The leaves are thread-like or lobed. 

The plant produces four-petalled, blue flowers with white or green centres. Flowers are about 1,5 cm in diameter. They have hairless, purple calyces. Blooming coincides with the general floral boom of the region in late winter to midspring.

The plant belongs to the same family as cauliflower and broccoli, the Brassicaceae or mustard family. When its leaves are crushed, they smell like cauliflower. Heliophila means sun loving.

The distribution of H. coronopifolia lies in the south-western Cape, ranging from the Peninsula to southern Namaqualand (Manning, 2009; iSpot; www.plantzafrica.com).