Athanasia trifurcata, a functional reproductive unit

Branching near but not in the ground, the Athanasia trifurcata shrublet in picture did not (yet) bother with secondary branching higher up. Bushes that grow single-stemmed from the ground don’t resprout after fire, having to grow new plants from seed, and populating veld later than resprouter species.

Every erect branch is tipped with a cluster of flowerheads, each head comprising numerous disc florets. The annual seed set is huge. No wonder the plant tends to invade, its future deemed of least concern, in spite of its inability to resprout (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Manning, 2007; Leistner, (Ed.), 2000; iNaturalist).