Felicia brevifolia flowerhead

The flowerheads of Felicia brevifolia grow solitary from stem-tips above the foliage. The hairy but leafless peduncles are variable in length, up to 4 cm long.

About 10 to 15 blue, violet to nearly white ray florets spread to a diameter of up to 5 cm. The rays in picture curve in from the sides, notable near their bases. They form a ring around the compact yellow disc of numerous, five-lobed, bisexual florets. The bunch of disc florets protrude tall in the centre, while the rays tend to be strongly reflexed. Some branched styles and possibly some anthers can be discerned above the yellow mass, the lower disc floret tubes white.

Flowering may begin late in autumn, continuing until early spring. The photo was taken in September.

Some dry leaves persist in the photo close to the green ones, first dark brown and lower down pale fawn (Le Roux, et al, 2005; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist; Wikipedia).