ACANTHACEAE

Rhinacanthus xerophilus

Wildflowers

Local Context

This can be considered a Raptor's View special. Although it does not feature in many flower guides, it is particularly common on the estate. Look for its white flowers after the first rains, specifically around the Pygmy Falcon turnoff from Tawny Eagle and in other woodland sections with sandy or stony soils.

Identification

Growth: Erect or straggling herb or shrublet up to 70 cm tall, becoming woody at the base.
Flowers: White, often with purple or mauve markings on the lower lip or throat, shaped like a long straight tube (up to 3.4 cm long) that splits into two lips.
Leaves: Egg-shaped to heart-shaped up to 4.2 cm long, arranged in opposite pairs, with upper leaves sitting directly against the stem.
Texture: Covered in white hairs, particularly dense on the undersides of young leaves, with sticky glands on the flower spikes.

Did You Know?

The name xerophilus means "dry-loving," indicating it happily survives dry seasons due to its long tap roots. It is near-endemic to Limpopo and Mpumalanga.

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