Muraltia minuta explained

Muraltia minuta (mini purple gorse) is a flowering plant in the milkwort family (Polygalaceae). It is endemic to rocky flats to about 100m (300feet) 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 NaNcm (-2,147,483,648inches) 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]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Hermanus Botanical Society . Muraltia minuta . Fernkloof Nature Reserve . June 30, 2020.
2. Web site: Muraltia minuta Levyns . www.ville-ge.ch . Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques Ville de Geneve . June 30, 2020.
3. Web site: Muraltia minuta Levyns . Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanical Gardens Kew . 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. Web site: South African National Biodiversity Institute . Muraltia minuta Levyns . Red List of South African Plants . June 30, 2020.
7. Web site: Muraltia minuta . International Plant Names Index . Royal Botanical Gardens Kew . June 30, 2020.