Spiderlings, stars and hyrax bushes are all members of the four-o'clock family, the Nyctaginaceae, so named because most of its members open their flowers in the late afternoon. It is well known for its colourful garden plants that include bougainvilleas and four-o'clocks (Mirabilis jalapa). Not so well known, however, are the naturally occurring, smaller-flowered, but not less colourful, spiderlings (Boerhavia) and stars (Commicarpus). The common name of the former refers to the numerous long, slender and interlocking stems of sticky inflorescences that give a spiderweb appearance. The latter probably refers to the five-sepalled flowers that look like little stars.