Malephora thunbergii (Haw.) Schwantes

A decumbent, freely branched herb, with age becoming somewhat erect and rather woody, and tending to scramble if support is available, 15 to 20 cm high. Leaves ascending or erect, subterete or obtusely trigonous, obtuse or acute, 2.5 to 5.5 cm long, 3 to 6 mm in diameter, the sheath 3 to 4 mm long. Flowers usually 4 cm in diameter. Receptacle clavate, 5 to 6 mm in diameter at the apex. Sepals 4 to 5, the 2 longer 1 to 1.7 cm long, or after flowering often 2.2 cm long, the shorter ones with a membranous margin. Petals 1 to 2-seriate, rather lax, linear, tapering towards the base, obtuse or subacute, entire, clear yellow becoming croceous with age and finally turning black, 1.9 cm long, up to 2 mm broad. Stamens erect, 5 mm in diameter; filaments yellow, 2 to 4 mm long, the inner copiously bearded at base with white pellucid hairs. Disk inconspicuous, annular. Ovary slightly convex above, 8 to 10-celled. Stigmas 8 to 10, subacute, 1.5 to 2 mm long. Capsule expanded 1.2 cm in diameter; keels parallel below, slightly divergent upwards; membranous wings adnate to keel, semi-lanceolate, acuminate, equalling the valves in length; seeds obovate.