Nemesia fruticans

Nemesia fruticans, in Afrikaans commonly called the maagpynblommetjie (little stomach ache flower) or stinkleeubekkie (stink snapdragon or little lion maw), is a small shrub growing erect stems from a woody base and taproot to 50 cm in height. The Latin words frutex meaning a shrub and fruticosus meaning bushy or shrubby, explain something about the plant's growth habit.

The spring flowers are often mauve, may also be white or pink and somewhat variable. A prominent yellow bulge occurs at the base of the lower lip of the corolla.

The species is widespread in the southern, central to north-eastern parts of South Africa, probably in all nine provinces and in several neighbouring countries. The photo was taken in the Melville Koppies early in August.

The habitat is grassland, often on stony slopes. The habitat population is deemed of least concern early in the twenty first century (Manning, 2009; Van Wyk and Malan, 1997; iNaturalist; www.plantzafrica.com; http://redlist.sanbi.org).