Acanthopsis villosa

This flowering Acanthopsis villosa plant was encountered in the Goegap Nature Reserve during August. One blue flower is open in the short, thick and spiny inflorescence, accompanied by several faded, brown remains of earlier flowers. Higher up, near the centre of the spike is a whitish bud promising to open soon.

The spiny yellow-green bracts in the centre of the inflorescence are not as fierce-looking as the spines on the dark green leaves.

Namaqualand has four indigenous Acanthopsis species (Leistner, (Ed.), 2000; iNaturalist).