 Endemic to southern Africa, the majority of the approximately 80 species grow in South Africa, particularly the Cape Floristic Region, while a few extend into the Namib Desert.The first recognised published description of "Heliophila" appears in the second edition of "Species Plantarum" by Carl Linnaeus, printed in 1763.He attributes his description, however, to Nicolaas Laurens Burman, a Dutch botanist.