ACANTHACEAE

Ruellia patula

White Veld Violet

Wildflowers

Local Context

Common throughout the estate and abundant in some spots, for example towards the end of the Zebra trail. The uncommon purple/mauve variety can be told apart from other Ruellias by the fact that the leaves appear to hug the stems.

Identification

Growth: Perennial or shrubby herb, often creeping or trailing in our area.
Flowers: White, but sometimes mauve, blue, or purple, shaped like a funnel or tube (1.2–5 cm long) with spreading lobes, typically opening and falling early in the morning.
Leaves: Egg-shaped to elliptic (rarely lance-shaped) up to 8 cm long (usually 1.5–6 cm).
Texture: Highly variable; leaves and young parts range from silky to sparsely hairy, often featuring long glossy curly hairs or sticky glands.
Fruit: Smooth, club-shaped capsule up to 2 cm long containing dark brown, flattened seeds.

Did You Know?

Ruellia patula is an extremely variable species that occurs from South Africa all the way to India. Future research may find it consists of different species. In the Lowveld this is mostly a tiny, scrambling plant, but elsewhere it often grows quite tall.

Back to List