Stiffly erect shrub to c. 80 cm high. Branches shortly hirsute. Leaves sessile, clustered along stem, narrow-lanceolate to oblong, 5–10 mm long, 1–2 mm wide, stiff, channelled, spine-tipped, glabrous or margins and/or keel shortly ciliate. Bract and bracteoles similar, ovate, papery, c. 1 mm long; sepals lanceolate, 3.5–5 mm long, the lateral (inner) pair slightly longer than others, sometimes mauve-tipped; petals pink or mauve (rarely white), upper pair 6–10 mm long, united to shortly above midway, the free part narrow-elliptic, lower petal c. 4–6 mm long, apically bilobed, the lobes c. orbicular, 2–3 mm diam.; stamens and style contained within pouched part of lower petal. Capsule shortly pubescent, 5–8 mm long, including the 3–4 mm long terminal appendages. Flowers Sep.–Nov.
GipP, CVU. Also naturalised SA, NSW. Native to the Cape region of South Africa. Of localized occurrence at Kyneton and in coastal scrub near Mornington.
Source:
Walsh, N.G. (1999). Polygalaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 4, Cornaceae to Asteraceae, pp. 130–137. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
