Heliophila africana

This annual herb grows up to 135 cm (53 in) tall.^[2][3] It is most commonly 60–70 cm (24–28 in) and may be sparely branched.^[4] The leaves are lance shaped and are sometimes toothed. They lack stipules.^[2] They grow to be up to 13 cm (5.1 in) long and sometimes have lobes.^[4] The lower leaves grow on stalks, while the upper leaves are stalkless.^[3]

Flowers, which are blue or mauve in colour, are most common between August and October.^[2] They have four round petals with basal appendages surrounding a white center and a yellow stamen.^[2][3] While one appendage per petal is most common, they may rarely have two.^[4] They contain 20-52 ovules.^[2] The flowers are only open when it is warm, and will close when the environment cools.^[3]

The fruits are liner. They are 13–100 mm (0.51–3.94 in) long.^[2] They are flat or slightly rounded in cross-section with straight margins and 3-nerved valves although rare 5-valved specimens have been found). The seeds are subcircular or a broad oblong in shape and are 1.7–2.3 mm (0.067–0.091 in) long.^[4]

This species is endemic to South Africa. It is found between Namaqualand and Swellendam, although it is most common between the Cape Peninsula and Clanwilliam.^[4] It prefers sandy flats, where it grows between bushes and rocks.^[2][3]

Fatty acids make up approximately a third of the seed's dry weight for this species. Approximately 41% of this is made up of very-long-chain fatty acids. Linoleic acid makes up around 22% of the seed fatty acids. The relatively high levels of nervonic acid and lower levels of erucic acid may make this species one of commercial interest.^[5]