''Muraltia'' is a genus of plants in the milkwort family (
Polygalaceae) which is native to Southern and Eastern Africa.
Most of the species are
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...
to South Africa, and one species is
naturalized
Naturalization (or naturalisation) is the legal act or process by which a non-national of a country acquires the nationality of that country after birth. The definition of naturalization by the International Organization for Migration of the ...
in Australia.
It is named after
Johannes von Muralt, a Swiss botanist and surgeon.
In 2006 the genus ''Nylandtia'', which contained two species, was merged into ''Muraltia''.
The two species formerly part of ''Nylandtia'' are ''
Muraltia scoparia'' and ''
Muraltia spinosa''. ''Nylandtia'' are commonly known as "Tortoise berry" plants ("skilpadbessie"). This is because of the bright edible berries that they produce, which are relished by the
tortoise
Tortoises ( ) are reptiles of the family Testudinidae of the order Testudines (Latin for "tortoise"). Like other turtles, tortoises have a shell to protect from predation and other threats. The shell in tortoises is generally hard, and like o ...
species of the
fynbos
Fynbos (; , ) is a small belt of natural shrubland or heathland vegetation located in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa. The area is predominantly coastal and mountainous, with a Mediterranean climate. The fynbos ...
.
Description
Muraltia are
perennial
In horticulture, the term perennial ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the year") is used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. It has thus been defined as a plant that lives more than 2 years. The term is also ...
,
ericoid
The word "ericoid" is used in modern biological terminology for its literal meanings and for extensions. Ericoid could have more than one meaning, but in practice the most common use is in reference to a plant's habit, to describe small, tough (s ...
shrublets or shrubs. Their small flowers and
sessile or have short stalks.
usually have 3 petals and 5
sepal
A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106
Etymology
The term ''sepalum'' ...
s which are usually