Herb Stem: hairy, lacking glands. Leaves: alternate, shallowly wavy-toothed, coarsely hairy on both sides (hairs star-shaped), lacking glands. Fruit: a pod, without cross-partitions between the seeds, scarcely beaked.
Similar species: No information at this time.
Flowering: May
Habitat and ecology: Native to Africa. Our only record for this species is from along a railroad in Grundy County, Illinois, made in 1989. There eight plants were found growing in railroad ballast, at a point where vegetation ended and rock began.
Occurence in the Chicago region: non-native
Etymology: Malcolmia is named after William Malcolm, a London nurseryman. Africana means "of or from Africa."