Malcolmia africana (L.) R. Br. in Aiton, Hort. Kew. ed. 2, 4: 121. 1812; Hook. f. &. T. Anderson in Fl. Brit. India 1: 146. 1872. Hesperis africana L., Sp. Pl. 663. 1753.

Herbs, 15 - 45 cm high, stout with stiff forked hairs; branches many, long, but shorter than main stem, spreading. Leaves oblanceolate, oblong or subelliptic, entire or sinuate-dentate, sessile or petioled, 2.5 - 15 x 0.5 - 2 cm. Racemes 10 - 20-flowered, lax, 10 - 15 cm long in fruit; pedicels 1 - 2 mm long in fruit. Flowers subsessile, ca 6 mm across, pink to purple. Sepals ca 5 mm long not saccate. Petals ca 1 cm long, violet. Stamens ca 5 mm long. Fruits linear, more or less 4-angled, 3.5 - 8 cm long, 1 - 2 mm wide, patent, rigid, with short forked hairs. Seeds many, oblong.

Fl. & Fr. Jan. - June.

Distrib. India: Weed of cultivated fields. Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan.

S.W. Asia, S. Europe and N. Africa.