About Wahlenbergia tenella (L.f.) Lammers
Wahlenbergia tenella (L.f.) Lammers has an erect to sprawling growth habit. Its leaves are small, ovate, thick, and strongly recurved, with acute tips and entire margins; margins sometimes bear a few minute teeth near the leaf base. Flowers are clustered at stem tips, most often in groups of approximately three. Petals are strongly recurved, and sometimes slightly cucullate at the tip. The outer surface of the petals ranges in color from purple to blue to white. The style typically has a blue tip. The base of the filaments is truncate to obovate, sometimes even appearing three-lobed, and is covered in thick, short cilia. Calyx lobes are relatively short, measuring 2–3mm, and are acute, involute; like the leaves, they sometimes have a few minute marginal teeth near the base. The ovary is usually glabrous, more than half inferior, and hemispherical at its base, occasionally slightly flattened or pointed. This species is indigenous to the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa. Its range extends from Cape Town in the west, to Bredasdorp in the south, Ladismith in the north, and east to Port Elizabeth and Queenstown in the Eastern Cape. It grows most commonly in low-altitude sandy substrates, most often on coastal plains, and sometimes occurs inland. Wahlenbergia tenella is similar in appearance to Wahlenbergia tenerrima and Wahlenbergia nodosa, and is often confused with these two species.
