Felicia echinata upper stems

The young leaves on upper stems of Felicia echinata ascend, the recurving happening later. The overlapping leaves spiral stalkless around the stems, the stem attachments broad.

The upturned leaves show whitish lower midrib parts on lower surfaces, matching the young stem colouring. Midribs are usually inconspicuous, merely a fold on the upper surfaces of the blades.

The involucre of the flowerhead is here obscured by upper leaves, or floral leaves reaching right up to it. The flowerheads in picture are pale in both their blue rays and yellow discs.

The photo was taken in March. Flowering times reported in the literature vary, even to all year round; probably related to observations in particular parts of the distribution range (Manning, 2007; Moriarty, 1997; Gledhill, 1981; iNaturalist).