Description :

• Dwarf shrubs, dense, rounded, spreading, single-stemmed at base
• Leaves alternate, elliptic-oblong, obtuse, spreading, margins revolute, thick, with large immersed gland dots adjacent to small glandular tumuli; adaxial surface convex, glabrous, with a shallow median groove; abaxial surface densely pubescent in two grooves adjacent to the conspicuous gland-dotted midrib; new leaves normally villous with stipitate glands having reddish resinous tips
• Flowers terminal, 1-3-nate, 9 mm in diameter; bract lanceolate; apex subacute with several stipitate glands; bracteoles 2, lanceolate; apex acute with a stipitate gland
• Calyx lobes 5, pubescent with scattered stipitate glands
• Petals 5, limb fan-shaped, thinly villous below, spreading; claw linear, erect, pink fading to white
• Stamens 5, filaments becoming 2 mm long, erect, glabrous, acicular; anthers thinly pubescent, apical gland sessile; staminodes 0
• Disc obvallate, much higher than ovary, sinuate, level, exuding nectar
• Ovary 5-carpellate, densely pubescent, each lobe with a globose apical gland; stigma 5-lobed, capitellate; style glabrous, erect
• Fruit 5-carpellate; horns 1-2 mm long

Nomenclature:

• Sheilanthera I.Williams
  • Williams: 761 (1981)

Distribution & Notes:

• Southern Africa : Species 1: Sheilanthera pubens I.Williams, confined to the Cold Bokkeveld near Ceres (Western Cape)