Hermannia lavandulifolia

Hermannia lavandulifolia is a pale, grey-green, spreading shrublet reaching heights from 30 cm to 1,2 m, often around 60 cm.

The alternate, simple leaves on short petioles are oblanceolate to narrowly elliptic, growing on reddish upper stems. The leaf tapers to a pointed tip and to the base, its margins entire with just a hint that this isn’t always true. The velvety grey-green blade folds in along the midrib, ascending lateral veins visible, sometimes conspicuously. The leaves are about 20 mm long.

The species distribution is in the south of the Western Cape from Caledon to Plettenberg Bay.

The habitat is lower coastal slopes in renosterveld, strandveld and dune thicket, the plants growing in sandy or clayey soils. Although widespread, the species is considered vulnerable in its habitat early in the twenty first century. This is due to habitat destruction, mainly from farming and invasion by alien vegetation (Curtis-Scott, et al, 2020; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org)