Selago canescens, commonly the bitter bush and in Afrikaans the blou aarbossie (little blue vein bush), is an evergreen, densely leafy shrublet bearing many slender, erect stems to heights from 30 cm to 50 cm.
The blue in the common name refers to mauve flowers seen in late winter to early spring. The reference to veins refers to the tendency of the shrub to “seek” out areas where underground water flows; probably leading to drilling projects decided upon the free water divining information. Its success rate unknown!
The species distribution is from the Cape Peninsula in the Western Cape to the Eastern Cape as far as Makhanda.
The plants grow on dry, coastal, shale slopes. It is not considered threatened in habitat early in the twenty first century.
Some sources place the Selago genus in a more restricted family, the Selaginaceae. Scrophulariaceae still seems to be correct though (Curtis-Scott, et al, 2020; Privett and Lutzeyer, 2010; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; www.plantzafrica.com; http://redlist.sanbi.org).