Family Acanthaceae
Description
Barleria gueinzii is a much-branched, evergreen, scrambling shrub with egg-shaped (ovate), greyish olive-green leaves and mauve-blue flowers from February to June. The fruit is a small, sharply pointed, exploding capsule. This shrub grows fairly fast to a height of about 1-2 m.
Barleria gueinzii is found in the summer rainfall areas of South Africa on forest margins, rocky hilltops (koppies ) and hillsides in full sun to semi-shade and is able to withstand a moderate amount of frost. Rainfall ranges from 500-1 000 mm per annum with temperatures rising to the thirties (°C).
Ecology
Barleria gueinzii is pollinated by insects and attracts various species of butterflies. The insects attract insectivorous birds; therefore if you are a gardener that likes attracting life into your garden this plant is a good choice.
This plant bears small capsules, which explode to disperse the seeds.
