Arctotis semipapposa striped flower stalk

Strongly contrasting dark and pale longitudinal lines of nearly equal width run straight along the visible section of this Arctotis semipapposa peduncle, the hollow flower stalk. The striped stalk appears worm-like in the photo, or like a strip of zebra skin. The rough hairiness seems to be restricted to the dark ridged sections, not occurring on the whitish recessed parts between them.

The velvety white lower leaf surfaces are visible, as are the spaced shallow toothing on the leaf margins. Leaves curve downwards to their tips. Pale woolly coverings seem to run along the vein indentations upon the upper leaf surfaces.