Osteospermum scariosum

Osteospermum scariosum, commonly known in Afrikaans as skaapbos (sheep bush) and scientifically previously as Tripteris aghillana, is a shrubby perennial growing from a base that is woody mostly underground and reaching 10 cm to 50 cm in height. The often-striped stems are rough and hairy.

The species distribution is widespread, mostly inland except in the southern Cape and common in the southwestern and central parts of the country. Skaapbos occurs in all provinces of South Africa barring KwaZulu-Natal. It also grows in some neighbouring countries, as far as tropical Africa. The photo was taken west of Barrydale.

The habitat is diverse, including fynbos, renosterveld, thicket and bushveld. The plants are found in dry, sandy areas and on rocky slopes, dolerite often in association. The species is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Manning, 2007; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist; JSTOR; http://redlist.sanbi.org).