''Wahlenbergia tenella'' (known as the "Fine Capebell") is a herbaceous plant in the family '' Campanulaceae'' native to the southern Cape regions of South Africa.

Description

''Wahlenbergia tenella'' has an erect-sprawling growth-habit. Its leaves are small, ovate, thick and strongly recurved. The leaf tips are acute and the margins are entire (sometimes with a few minute marginal teeth near the leaf base). Its flowers are assembled at the tips of the stems, often in groups of about three. The petals are strongly recurved, sometimes slightly cucullate at the tip. The outside of the petals ranges in colour from purple to blue to white. The style is usually blue-tipped. The base of the filaments is truncate-to-obovate (sometimes even appearing to be 3-lobed), and is covered in thick, short cilia. Its calyx lobes are relatively short (2-3mm), acute, involute and, as with the leaves, sometimes with a few minute marginal teeth near the base. The ovary is usually glabrous, and more than half inferior. Basally it is hemispherical or occasionally slightly flattened or pointed.

Distribution and habitat

''Wahlenbergia tenella'' is indigenous to the Western Cape and

Eastern Cape The Eastern Cape is one of the provinces of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are East London and Gqeberha. The second largest province in the country (at 168,966 km2) after Northern Cape, it was formed in ...

provinces of South Africa. It occurs from Cape Town in the west, to Bredasdorp in the south, Ladismith in the north, and eastwards as far as

Port Elizabeth Gqeberha (), formerly Port Elizabeth and colloquially often referred to as P.E., is a major seaport and the most populous city in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is the seat of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality, Sou ...

and Queenstown in the

Province. It is most commonly found in lower altitude sandy substrates, especially on coastal plains but also sometimes inland. This species is similar to, and often confused with, '' Wahlenbergia tenerrima'' and '' Wahlenbergia nodosa''.

Varieties

''Wahlenbergia tenella'' has two recognised varieties: * ''W. tenella'' var. ''palustris'' (Adamson) W.G.Welman. Indigenous to marshes, river-banks and moist, mountainous habitats in the Langeberg, between Swellendam and Riversdale. * ''W. tenella'' var. ''stokoei'' (Adamson) W.G.Welman. Indigenous to the low coastal mountains between Caledon and Bredasdorp.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q15557366 tenella Endemic flora of the Cape Provinces Renosterveld Fynbos