Lessertia spinescens

Lessertia spinescens, in Afrikaans known as the doringklappertjie (little thorn cracker or clapper), is a shrub reaching heights around 70 cm. The plant is spiny from the persistent stalks of old flowerheads.

The pointed flowerheads comprise white and purplish pink flowers, widely spaced in their raceme. The flower is up to 7 mm long. The stamens are joined, the upper one free. Flowering happens from midwinter to midspring.

The species is endemic to the Northern Cape. The plants are found among the Namaqua Klipkoppe (stone heads) in granite derived sandy soil. The plant is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (Le Roux, et al, 2005; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).