Entry From
Flora of South Africa, (2003) Author: Dr J.P. Roux
Common names
Cheiranthus africanus L., Amoen. Acad. 6 : 90 (1760) (== PI. Rar. Afr. nr. 23). Type : Leucojunt africanum etc., Herm., Lugd. 364, t.365 (1687). Heliophila integrifolia L., Sp. PI. ed. 2, 2 : 926 (1763), excl. syn. Plukenet; Jacq., 1c. Rar. 3, t.506 (1790); O.E. Schuiz in Bot. Archiv 31 : 519 (1931); Adamson in Fl. Cape Penins. 417 (1950); nom. illegit. Type : as above. H. pilosa Lam., Encycl. 3 : 90 (1789); DC, Syst. 2 : 686 (1821); Sond. in Abh. Ges. Naturw. Hamb. 1 : 239 (1846); F.C. 1 : 47 (1860), nom. illegit.? H. frutescens Lam., Encycl. 3:91 (1789), nom. dub. H. arabioides Sims in Bot. Mag. t.496 (1800). H. pilosa var. integrifolia (L.) DC, I.e. (1821); Sond. in Abh. Ges. Naturw. Hamb. 1 : 239 (1846); F.C. 1 : 47 (1860). —var. incisa DC, I.e. (1821); Sond. in Abh. Ges. Naturw. Hamb. 1 : 240 (1846); F.C. 1 : 48 (1860). Type : Bot. Mag. t.496. H. digitata DC. I.e. (1821), non L.f. H. incisa DC, I.e. 687(1821). Type : Masson s.n. (BM!). H.incana sensu Thunb., Fl. Cap. ed. Schult. 494 (1823). H. stricta Sims in Bot. Mag. t.2526 (1825). H. divaricata sensu Eckl. & Z Pachystylum glabruin Eckl. & Zeyh., Enum. 13, No. 100(1834-5). Orthoselis pilosa (Lam.) Spach, Hist. Veg. & Phan. 6 : 453 (1938), nom. illegit.
Habitat
The cultivated specimen which De Candolle identified with Heliophila filiformis L.f., and on which he based the section Carponema with inde-hiscent fruits, is still in the British Museum of Natural History. The fruits seem abnormal, but are definitely not indehiscent, and the specimen undoubtedly belongs to H. africana. The type specimen of H. filiformis L.f., and of Carponema filiforme (L.f.) Eckl. & Zeyh., is just a form of H. coronopifolia L. 1 have not seen the Ecklon & Zeyher specimen named Carponema filiforme, nor the Drege specimen which Sonder included with the Ecklon & Zeyher gathering under this species. Sonder's drawings and description, however, leave no doubt that they are H. africana.
Range
A widespread species extending from Namaqualand to the Swellendam district, but more frequent in the central part of the area between the Peninsula and the Clanwilliam districts. The flowers are variously described as blue, mauve or purple. The main flowÂering period is from August to October.