Canary Nettle – Sphedamnocarpus pruriens subsp. Pruriens

IMG_1618The Canary Nettle first caught my attention when I noticed clusters of bright yellow flowers on a creeper that was twining its way up some of the other plants outside my kitchen window. When I looked closely at the flowers, I was amazed at how unusual and beautiful they are.  At first glance they appear to have a green centre, but on closer inspection the base of the petals narrows to allow the green calyx to be visible.  This creeper is also be known as the Lesser moth-creeper and is part of the Malpighiaceae family, which may also be listed under the name Acridocarpus pruriens A.Juss.  This creeper can be found in grassland and woodlands along the eastern countries in southern Africa.  I have found 5 such plants scattered in the grass/woodland outside our kitchen and below the very large Mountain Rock Fig next to our bedroom.

IMG_1620The flowers are borne in clusters of 5 or more flowers with each flower measuring about 25mm in diameter and flowers appear between December and March. The stamens are very prominent in their upright position.  CanaryNettleSeedThe winged fruit is 20mm x 15mm and can be described as a samara (a type of dry fruit where one seed is surrounded by papery tissue that helps carry the seed away from the plant).  The creeper plants I observed have not yet gone to seed, so this information and the seed picture have come from https://www.ispotnature.org/node/765421

IMG_1623The leaves are grey-green, about 50mm long, hairy and arranged in opposite pairs. Their margins are entire and their shape can be ovate to cordate (heart-shaped).  The hairs on the lower leaf surface are an irritant and cause itching as do the hairs on the seedpod as well.

A little whimsy: Moth Reedfilter

FairyCanaryNettleShe plays reed pipes and sings spellbinding songs. She lives close to caverns and stalactite grottoes. She can only be seen on midsummer’s eve. She wears dresses stitched with crystals and has deep green butterfly wings.