Metalasia is a genus of African flowering plants in the pussy’s-toes tribe within the sunflower family, Asteraceae. Metalasia has some 54 species in South Africa, many of them found in the Western Cape. The name of the genus Metalasia is derived from ‘meta’ which can have many meanings, but in this case is intended as ‘reverse’, and ‘lasios’ meaning ‘woolly’, an allusion to the woolly reverse sides of the leaves.

Metalasia muricata commonly known as White Bristle Bush in English and Blombos, Witsteekbossie or Steekbos in Afrikaans is a South African endemic species from the Eastern Cape and Western Cape Provinces. This is a widespread, tough shrub with honey-scented flowers whose garden potential is often overlooked. The leaves are alternate, needle-like, 6-18 mm long, scattered, sharp-tipped, green-grey and smooth or woolly. The honey-scented flowers vary in colour from common white to pink or purple. Full bloom is in winter in terminal clusters (60 mm diam.), which and are bisexual. The fruit is a ribbed nutlet with a bristly pappus. The white or greyish main stem bark is sometimes not visible as it is obscured by the many dense branches.