Pink Monsonia

angustifolia: narrow-leaved

Decumbent or suberect annual herb, branching from a slightly woody base. Stems up to 50 cm long but usually shorter, pubescent and covered in very short gland-tipped hairs mixed with longer ones. Leaves narrowly oblong or elliptic, up to c. 3.5 × 1 cm, with indumentum as the stems; margin irregularly toothed; petiole 0.5-2 cm. Flowers in 1-3-flowered pseudumbel, leaf-opposed or sometimes in the axil of 2 apparently opposite leaves, mauve to blue or rarely white or yellowish; petals 9-14 mm long, often shallowly lobed at the apex. Fruit, including the erect rostrum, 5-9 cm long.

Widespread in Africa from Nigeria to Somalia and south to South Africa. Also in Madagascar.