Agrião-de-Rocha (Kickxia elegans)

Small shrub, creeping or hanging, which can grow to 40 cm. Leaves vary from reniform to rhomboidal and are light green. Flowers are small, yellow and are borne singly. This native of Cape Verde has been recorded on all the islands and the islet of Branco. Found from sea level to 1,600 m, mainly growing in rupicolous communities, but adapted to a variety of habitats. It is quite common in most islands and is therefore not considered endangered. There are three subspecies: K. elegans, K. dichondrifolia and K. webbiana, which mainly differ in leaf and seed shape; K. webbiana is exclusive to Santo Antão, while the first two are more widely distributed.