Arctotis auriculata old flowerheads

Some ray florets in picture begin to curve back on the ageing Arctotis auriculata flowerheads.

Lower down, the thin tails on the involucre’s rigid outer bracts veer away conspicuously from the flowerhead body. The inner bracts ending in large, papery tips are also visible here, their rounded, translucent upper parts turning orange-brown with age.

The involucre will last much better than the ray blades, persisting as long as needed to hold the ripening fruits.

White hairs that grow long in a tuft at the base of each fruit have become visible in the photo. The egg-shaped fruit has ribs on one side around tiny furrows. There is a pappus with scales attached to the fruit (Le Roux, et al, 2005; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist).