The Brunia family, Bruniaceae, consists of 12 genera and 77 species, endemic to South Africa and concentrated in the south-western Cape. The 12 genera include Audouinia, Berzelia, Brunia, Linconia, Lonchostoma, Mniothamnea, Nebelia, Pseudobaeckea, Raspalia, Staavia, Thamnea and Tittmannia. The genus Brunia is most likely named after a contemporary of Linnaeus, the apothecary, Dr Cornelis Brun, who travelled in Russia and the Levant, although it could also be in commemoration of Dr Alexander Brown, a ship’s surgeon and a collector who worked in the East Indies around 1690.

Brunia noduliflora is an unusual fynbos shrub and a Cape endemic; it has clusters of fluffy white pompon-like flower heads in winter and knobby fruits all year round. Brunia noduliflora is endemic to the south-western and southern Cape. It is common on hills and mountains slopes from the Olifants River Mountains to Piketberg, the Cape Peninsula, Jonkershoek, Hottentos Holland, Kogelberg through to Hermanus, and on to the Van Stadens Mountains and Uitenhage. It grows in full sun, on rocky sandstone slopes, often in moist areas, next to rivers or running water. Its foliage is useful, long-lasting filler, and the knobby fruiting heads are an interesting feature in cut flower floral arrangements.