Tricliceras laceratum, lions eyes

Tricliceras laceratum produces these bright orange to brick-orange flowers in open grassland. The plants are found from Swaziland through the Lowveld to the Limpopo border and beyond.

The lion’s eyes common name was probably given by someone who made overly memorable eye contact with a lion. The retained image is clearly bloodshot and maybe fiercer than real lion eyes.

These herbs regrow their upper parts seasonally from a woody rootstock (Manning, 2009; Leistner, (Ed.) 2000; iNaturalist).

There are more photos and stories of T. laceratum in the Herbs Album of this Site. Or use the Search Box for accessing any Album material relating to any plant being investigated.