''Massonia pustulata'', the blistered massonia, is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloidiae,

native Native may refer to: People * Jus soli, citizenship by right of birth * Indigenous peoples, peoples with a set of specific rights based on their historical ties to a particular territory ** Native Americans (disambiguation) In arts and entert ...

to the Western Cape of South Africa. Growing to tall and broad, it is a small bulbous

perennial A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wid ...

with two horizontal, opposite leaves, and virtually stalkless cream or pink flowers in winter. The stamens are longer than the

perianth The perianth (perigonium, perigon or perigone in monocots) is the non-reproductive part of the flower, and structure that forms an envelope surrounding the sexual organs, consisting of the calyx (sepals) and the corolla ( petals) or tepals when ...

, giving the flower the appearance of a rounded, spiky brush-head. The deep “pock marks” on the leaves give the plant its common name, as well as the specific epithet ''pustulata''. In temperate zones it requires protection as it does not survive being frozen. Its small size makes it a suitable subject for a pot under glass. It has been given the

Royal Horticultural Society The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), founded in 1804 as the Horticultural Society of London, is the UK's leading gardening charity. The RHS promotes horticulture through its five gardens at Wisley (Surrey), Hyde Hall (Essex), Harlow Carr (Nor ...

’s Award of Garden Merit.

References

File:Massonia pustulata 1c.JPG File:Massonia pustulata 2c.JPG File:Massonia pustulata fruits.jpg, Fruits {{Taxonbar, from=Q15524558 pustulata Flora of the Cape Provinces Taxa named by Nikolaus Joseph von Jacquin