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Muraltia minuta

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Muraltia minuta
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Polygalaceae
Genus: Muraltia
Species:
M. minuta
Binomial name
Muraltia minuta

Muraltia minuta (mini purple gorse) is a flowering plant in the milkwort family (Polygalaceae). It is endemic to rocky flats to about 100 metres (330 ft) above sea level in the south-western Cape Province, South Africa.[1][2][3][4]

It is a perennial erect or spreading subshrub with a height between 6 and 20 centimetres (2.4 and 7.9 in) and branches mainly at its base.[1][2] The plant's clustered leaves are softly-haired and have sharp tips. It produces pink flowers which are stalkless, the calyx is at least half the length of the corolla.[1][5] It is categorised on the Red List of South African Plants as Endangered due to invasive species and habitat loss.[6]

Muraltia minuta was first written about by Margaret Levyns in 1954 in the Journal of South African Botany.[7] It was named "minuta", the Latin word for "small", in reference to the plant's small size.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Hermanus Botanical Society. "Muraltia minuta". Fernkloof Nature Reserve. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Muraltia minuta Levyns". www.ville-ge.ch. Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques Ville de Geneve. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  3. ^ "Muraltia minuta Levyns". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanical Gardens Kew. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  4. ^ https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/590359-Muraltia-minuta
  5. ^ Strelitzia 29 PLANTS OF THE GREATER CAPE FLORISTIC REGION 1: The Core Cape Flora 2012 by John Manning and Peter Goldblatt
  6. ^ South African National Biodiversity Institute. "Muraltia minuta Levyns". Red List of South African Plants. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  7. ^ "Muraltia minuta". International Plant Names Index. Royal Botanical Gardens Kew. Retrieved June 30, 2020.