English: Wild clove-bush; Pepperbush.
Afrikaans: Bergklapper; Bergklapperbos; Bergklapperbossie; Donkiebos; Klokkiesbos; Peperbos; Peperbossie; Perdebos; Wildenaeltjiebos; T'iena.
Name: caryophyllacea from the Greek karyophyllon means clove
Genus: 1 species.
Clades:
Montiniaceae.
Region: Southern Africa; Angola, Botswana,Namibia.
Habitat: dry, rocky, sandstone or granite slopes.
BotanyShrublet; upright; greyish; dioecious, male and female flowers on separate plants; up to 1.5 m tall.
Leaves: leathery; elliptical; sometimes tufted; 15 to 70 mm long; pale green; smooth; dull, waxy coating.
Flowers: small; waxy; white; blossoms between May to October.
Inflorescence: loose clusters on the male plants; 1 or 2 flowers on the females plants; 4 petals.
Fruit: ovoid or shuttle; capsule; dry and brown; 15 to 20 mm long; husk splits into 2 halves to release the seeds.
Seeds: small, flatten discs; with membranous wings.