Description
Nylandtia spinosa (Polygalaceae). Tortoise berry ( Eng. ); skilpadbessie (Afr.); Mmaba (Tswana); It is a much branched, stiffly erect, rounded shrub, 1 x 1 m, with arching, spine-tipped stems covered in small, narrow deciduous leaves. Sweetpea-like flowers, (purple, pink or white) cover the plant in a beautiful mass starting in autumn and continuing through winter to early spring which makes it very striking. The fleshy fruits are bright red when ripe, edible, and produced throughout summer. This shrub has a moderate growth rate and is quite hardy. Sowing : Sow in summer. Germination should occur in 2 to 3 weeks. Locality : Worcester. Date of harvest : November 2013
