Osteospermum monstrosum involucre and fruiting

Seen from behind, the involucre of an Osteospermum monstrosum flowerhead that has already formed its three-winged fruits, has one row of involucral bracts clearly in view. They are claw-like from long, narrow lobes that have developed thickened purple joints where they separate.

A second, inner row of broader, membranous and translucent bracts is present, shorter than the fruits inside but hard to discern against the fruit wing shapes. The wings equip the fruit for wind-dispersal of the seed.

The fruits become up to 9 mm long. All parts at the flowerhead base are hairy, apart from the purple-tipped fruit wings (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; Manning, 2007; Le Roux, et al, 2005; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist).