Arctotis leiocarpa

Arctotis leiocarpa, the Karoo arctotis, is an annual white daisy of the inland western parts of South Africa and southern Namibia. The plant is stemless, branched with lobed or divided leaves. The photo was taken near Olifantshoek in the Northern Cape at the beginning of September, the right time for flower viewing visits in this part of the country.

The species is clearly a contributor to the seasonal colour plethora, flowering from late winter to mid-spring. It also tends to settle in or cover disturbed ground. The habitat is open, grassy and gravelly plains of which there is an abundance in this part of the world. After good rains the seeds germinate and bring an eye-catching daisy presence to this land.

Dairy farmers in the plants distribution are not so fond of it. They believe that the milk of cows that graze this plant acquires a bitter taste (Manning, 2009; Shearing and Van Heerden, 2008).