Cleretum bellidiforme small and yellow

The flower colours of Cleretum bellidiforme are highly variable. It may bear yellow flowers uniformly as here, while white, red, purple or pink flowers are often seen.

In addition, bicoloured flowers with white or yellow petal bases are common. To add to the assortment, flower centres may be yellow, red or dark. The pedicels of the solitary flowers may be 2,5 cm long. Flowers measure 2 cm to 3 cm across.

The tufted plant produces paddle-shaped leaves, covered in glistening bladder cells. The ice plant name persists, although the effect referred to is created by water storage surface cells and ice is very rare where these plants grow.

The photo was taken in February on the coast south of Lamberts Bay. The soil here is very sandy (Manning, 2007; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984).