Othonna lobata

[nfoto]

Rørslett, B. 2022. Othonna lobata Schltr. Asteraceae. South-African flowers photographed in ultraviolet (UV) and visible light. LINK

 

This is a  perennial, succulent shrub that grows to a height of approx. 0.5m and is found on dry upland soils. The bright yellow flower heads have a few, usually 5, large rays surrounding a small central part with small disc floret. The leaves are thick, quite stiff, and have shallowly lobed margins.

 

I photographed the plant at Kirstenborsch National Botanical Gardens near Cape Town.

 

The shrub has a rather wide distribution in all three Cape provinces, plus adjacent parts of Namibia (map from http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/details.php?langue=an&id=100699),

 

 

The overall view of its habit, showing flower head, foliage, and the thickened stems,

 

 

 

Seen in ultraviolet (UV), the flower head has a classic bull's-eye pattern,

 

 

All images on this page are copyright Birna Rørslett and may not be used without explicit permission from the author.

 

[Published 11 February, 2022]