Cheiridopsis denticulata

Cheiridopsis denticulata pictured here grows well in the Karoo Desert National Botanical Garden at Worcester. The flowers of this species open around noon and close at sunset. This feature is shared with many other plants for which the open flower phase is aligned with the activity pattern of the plants pollinators. In this way some will open at sunset, if the pollinators are nocturnal, like bats or moths. 

The flowering season of C. denticulata ranges from late winter to early spring. Flowers are solitary on separate stalks. Stock and game will eat these flowers as a delicacy. This species resembles C. acuminata.

Cheiris means sheath and opsis means resembling; both words are Greek. This refers to the dry, papery leaf sheaths remaining from last year’s leaves on some of the plants during the (summer) resting season, providing protection (Smith, et al, 1998; Le Roux, et al, 2005).