Psiadia punctulata

Psiadia punctulata, in Afrikaans known as blink stefaans (shiny stefaans), is a common sight on the Magaliesberg where it flowers in both winter and summer, although the blooming season is recorded as spring to autumn. It grows in South Africa north of the Vaal River and the Northern Cape, the only of 60 Psiadia species to be found in southern Africa. Its distribution extends to Botswana, Namibia and to the north in Africa as far as Kenya, Sudan, Somalia and Ethiopia.

The habitat is bushveld, often in the shade of trees near sandy riverbeds and rocky ridges. The species is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century.

This may or may not be the same plant as P. arabica found in north Africa and the Middle East. Some sources list the two names as synonyms.

In Kenya the plant is used in traditional medicine as well as for ridding cattle of ectoparasites, presumably tics. No information about any such utilisation of the plant in South Africa was found. No common name for the plant was found either. Maybe it deserves a closer look! 

Chemical analyses on the composition and biological activity of substances found in this plant abound in the literature (Van Wyk and Malan, 1997; Blundell, 1987; Germishuizen and Fabian, 1982; http://redlist.sanbi.org).