Citation: DC., Prod. 1:335 (1824).

Synonymy: Polygala heisteria L., Sp. Pl. 704 (1753).

Common name: Furze muraltia, African furze.

Description:
Stiff erect or divaricate shrub, to 1 m high; stems terete, densely pubescent; leaves clustered in tufts along the stem, c. 5-12 mm long, linear-lanceolate, keeled, rigidly pungent-pointed, usually with marginal hairs and occasionally hairs along the keel.

Flowers solitary or 2 together, sessile or nearly so, in leaf clusters, 5-12 mm long; sepals 5, almost equal in length, c. 4-5 mm long, margins ciliate; petals 3, about twice as long as the sepals; lateral petals pink-mauve, spathulate, joined for about half their length, longer than the clawed purple keel; occasionally flowers all white; stamens 7; anthers opening by longitudinal slits; style wider near the apex, truncate; stigma lateral, sessile.

Capsule minutely pubescent, ovate, c. 5 mm long, with 4 long horn-like appendages at the summit; seed minutely pubescent.

Published illustration: Rice & Compton (1950) Wildflowers of the Cape of Good Hope. pl. 8.

Distribution:  S.Aust.: MU, SL.   N.S.W.; Vic. Conservation status: naturalised Flowering time: June — Oct.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Author: Not yet available