Heliophila scoparia

Heliophila scoparia is sometimes commonly called the mountain sunspurge and another Heliophila called sporrie. It is an erect, tussock-forming shrublet that grows rod-like, ridged stems to 1 m in height.

The leaves are narrow and lanceolate with acutely pointed tips. There are tiny stipules next to the leaf bases on the stems.

The species distribution is in the Western Cape from the Cape Peninsula northwards to the Cederberg and eastwards to Caledon and Ladismith. The photo was taken in Jonkershoek.

The habitat is fynbos on usually dry, sandstone slopes. Neither of the two recognised varieties is considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (Manning, 2007; Bean and Johns, 2005; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).