About Teucrium africanum Thunb.
Teucrium africanum Thunb. is a small, greyish bushy shrublet that reaches 10–30 cm (3.9–11.8 in) in height. Its stems are either simple or branched near the base, and are covered in fine glandular hairs that give the plant a softly felted texture. The leaves are stalkless (sessile), grey-green, and 8–30 mm (0.31–1.18 in) long; most are divided into three narrow lobes, which are linear to narrowly oblong, 5–25 mm (0.20–0.98 in) long and 1–3 mm (0.039–0.118 in) wide. The leaf margins are smooth, slightly rolled, and bear a light covering of hairs. Flowers are arranged in a leafy terminal panicle. They are white, with a greyish calyx 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) long and a small corolla 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long. The stamens extend well beyond the flower, reaching an extra 6–7 mm (0.24–0.28 in) outwards. In the Eastern Cape, ranging from around Makhanda to Komani, the distribution of Teucrium africanum overlaps with that of Teucrium trifidum. Teucrium africanum is noticeably shorter than Teucrium trifidum, and typically bears solitary flowers, while Teucrium trifidum has clusters of three to seven flowers. This species grows in arid habitats, with a distribution from Bredasdorp in the Western Cape, through the Klein Karoo, to near Makhanda, and inland to Middelburg and Graaff-Reinet.
