Chrysocoma coma-aurea spring flowers

The flowers of Chrysocoma coma-aurea, in Afrikaans known as beesbos (cattle bush), are normally seen from midspring to midsummer. This plant was photographed on Table Mountain in November.

The narrow, alternate leaves are pale green on the whitish stems in the photo, approaching summer. Leaf length varies between 3 mm and 20 mm.

The solitary discoid flowerheads are notably flat-topped with a dark spot, a gap in the centre of each floret, here mostly not fully open yet. The florets are five-lobed.

Four rows of green involucral bracts surrounding the flowerhead can be seen still covering the tops of some greenish white buds. These bracts have membranous margins; the receptacle below is without scales (Manning, 2007).