Osteospermum sinuatum var. sinuatum floral stages

Buds, as well as open and withered flowerheads of Osteospermum sinuatum var. sinuatum may be present simultaneously during prolific flowering in season, especially after rain.

Greenish, erect ray florets with margins curled in to form narrow spikes are visible on the young flowerheads ready to peak. Those beyond their prime have orange-yellow rolled back rays while straight, flat rays occur on the open flowerheads.

The difference between the young greenish, globular disc florets and the straw-like old florets clumped densely in the discs when the flowerheads are no longer borne erectly, is quite striking. It illustrates the opposite extremes of the flowering cycle (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; Le Roux, et al, 2005; Shearing and Van Heerden, 2008; Vahrmeijer, 1981; iNaturalist).