''Muraltia'' is a genus of plants in the milkwort family (
Polygalaceae) which is native to Southern and Eastern Africa.
Most of the species are
endemic to South Africa, and one species is
naturalized
Naturalization (or naturalisation) is the legal act or process by which a non-citizen of a country may acquire citizenship or nationality of that country. It may be done automatically by a statute, i.e., without any effort on the part of the in ...
in Australia.
It is named after
Johannes von Muralt, a Swiss botanist and surgeon.
In 2006 the genus ''Nylandtia'', which contained two species, was merged into ''Muraltia''.
The two species formerly part of ''Nylandtia'' are ''
Muraltia scoparia'' and ''
Muraltia spinosa''. ''Nylandtia'' are commonly known as "Tortoise berry" plants ("skilpadbessie"). This is because of the bright edible berries that they produce, which are relished by the
tortoise species of the
fynbos
Fynbos (; meaning fine plants) is a small belt of natural shrubland or heathland vegetation located in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa. This area is predominantly coastal and mountainous, with a Mediterranean clim ...
.
Description
Muraltia are
perennial,
ericoid
The word "ericoid" is used in modern biological terminology for its literal meanings and for extensions. Etymologically the word is derived from two Greek roots via Latin adaptations. Firstly, the Ancient Greek name for plants now known in English ...
shrublets or shrubs. Their small flowers and
sessile or have short stalks.
usually have 3 petals and 5
sepals which are usually
subequal. Their fruits contain 2 seeds. Their capsules are flat,
membranous, and usually 4-horned. Its seeds are
pubescent The adjective pubescent may describe:
* people or animals undergoing puberty
* plants that are hairy, covered in trichomes
* insects that are covered in setae
In biology, setae (singular seta ; from the Latin word for "bristle") are any of a ...
.
Species
As of July 2020, there are 118 accepted ''Muraltia'' species:Muraltia arachnoidea
''Muraltia'' is a genus of plants in the milkwort family ( Polygalaceae) which is native to Southern and Eastern Africa. Most of the species are endemic to South Africa, and one species is naturalized in Australia. It is named after Johannes vo ...
''
* ''Muraltia aspalatha
''Muraltia'' is a genus of plants in the milkwort family ( Polygalaceae) which is native to Southern and Eastern Africa. Most of the species are endemic to South Africa, and one species is naturalized in Australia. It is named after Johannes vo ...
''
* ''Muraltia aspalathoides
''Muraltia'' is a genus of plants in the milkwort family ( Polygalaceae) which is native to Southern and Eastern Africa. Most of the species are endemic to South Africa, and one species is naturalized in Australia. It is named after Johannes vo ...
''
* ''Muraltia asparagifolia
''Muraltia'' is a genus of plants in the milkwort family (Polygalaceae) which is native to Southern and Eastern Africa. Most of the species are endemic to South Africa, and one species is naturalized in Australia. It is named after Johannes von ...
''
* '' Muraltia barkerae''
* '' Muraltia bolusii''
* '' Muraltia bondii''
* '' Muraltia brachyceras''
* '' Muraltia brachypetala''
* '' Muraltia caledonensis''
* '' Muraltia calycina''
* '' Muraltia capensis''
* '' Muraltia carnosa''
* '' Muraltia chamaepitys''
* '' Muraltia ciliaris''
* '' Muraltia cliffortiifolia''
* '' Muraltia collina''
* '' Muraltia commutata''
* '' Muraltia comptonii''
* '' Muraltia concava''
* '' Muraltia crassifolia''
* '' Muraltia curvipetala''
* '' Muraltia cuspifolia''
* '' Muraltia cyclolopha''
* '' Muraltia decipiens''
* '' Muraltia demissa''
* '' Muraltia depressa''
* '' Muraltia diabolica''
* '' Muraltia dispersa''
* '' Muraltia divaricata''
* '' Muraltia dumosa''
* '' Muraltia elsieae''
* '' Muraltia empetroides''
* '' Muraltia empleuridioides''
* '' Muraltia ericifolia''
* '' Muraltia ericoides''
* '' Muraltia ferox''
* '' Muraltia filiformis''
* '' Muraltia flanaganii''
* '' Muraltia gillettiae''
* '' Muraltia guthriei''
* '' Muraltia harveyana''
* '' Muraltia heisteria''
* '' Muraltia hirsuta''
* '' Muraltia horrida''
* '' Muraltia hyssopifolia''
* '' Muraltia juniperifolia''
* '' Muraltia karroica''
* '' Muraltia knysnaensis''
* '' Muraltia lancifolia''
* '' Muraltia langebergensis''
* '' Muraltia leptorhiza''
* '' Muraltia lewisiae''
* '' Muraltia lignosa''
* '' Muraltia longicuspis''
* '' Muraltia macowanii''
* '' Muraltia macrocarpa''
* '' Muraltia macroceras''
* '' Muraltia macropetala''
* '' Muraltia minuta''
* '' Muraltia mitior''
* '' Muraltia mixta''
* '' Muraltia montana''
* '' Muraltia muirii''
* '' Muraltia muraltioides''
* '' Muraltia mutabilis''
* '' Muraltia namaquensis''
* '' Muraltia obovata''
* '' Muraltia occidentalis''
* '' Muraltia ononidifolia''
* '' Muraltia orbicularis''
* '' Muraltia origanoides''
* '' Muraltia oxysepala''
* '' Muraltia pageae''
* '' Muraltia paludosa''
* '' Muraltia pappeana''
* '' Muraltia pauciflora''
* '' Muraltia pillansii''
* '' Muraltia plumosa''
* '' Muraltia polyphylla''
* '' Muraltia pottebergensis''
* '' Muraltia pubescens''
* '' Muraltia pungens''
* '' Muraltia rara''
* '' Muraltia rhamnoides''
* '' Muraltia rigida''
* '' Muraltia rosmarinifolia''
* '' Muraltia rubeacea''
* '' Muraltia salsolacea''
* '' Muraltia satureioides''
* '' Muraltia saxicola''
* '' Muraltia schlechteri''
* '' Muraltia scoparia'' Goldblatt & Manning
* '' Muraltia serpylloides''
* '' Muraltia serrata''
* '' Muraltia spicata''
* '' Muraltia spinosa'' Dumort.
References
Polygalaceae
Fabales genera
{{Polygalaceae-stub