About Aeollanthus parvifolius Benth.
Aeollanthus parvifolius is a multi-stemmed, aromatic, fast-growing plant that reaches a maximum height of 0.8 meters. It produces succulent, spreading opposite leaves that range from egg-shaped to rounded; these leaves measure 15–55 mm long and 8–25 mm wide, and have 2 to 3 pairs of shallow teeth along their edges. Flowers develop from late summer to autumn, are two-lipped and tubular, grow up to 12 mm in length, and vary in color from white to light pink, frequently with mauve or reddish-purple markings on the upper lip. The flowers grow on lax panicles, or heavily branched inflorescences, with flower stalks reaching up to 200 mm long. The fruit of this species is made up of small nutlets, most often four per calyx. These nutlets stay enclosed in a persistent calyx that enlarges over time, and this calyx breaks cleanly at maturity to release the seeds. Aeollanthus parvifolius can be easily propagated from soft tip cuttings, which root quickly in sand in just 1 to 3 weeks, or from older herbaceous cuttings, which root in 2 to 4 weeks. This species is native to southern Africa, and has a wide distribution ranging from the northern Eastern Cape through Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces, and extending into Swaziland and southern Mozambique. It usually grows in montane and cliff-dwelling habitats, including grassland, savanna, and Afro-temperate vegetation, and is often found growing in rock crevices with any directional orientation.
