Osteospermum monstrosum leaves

These Osteospermum monstrosum leaves show little hairiness, fine marginal toothing and bold lower midribs.

These are variable features within the normal range of individual differences characterising the species, transmitted sexually via the seed. The existence of such differences provides the evolutionary basis for selective survival of favoured or situationally superior attributes in terms of prevailing conditions, if maintained to the reproductive stage.

Environmental challenges elicit plant responses, variety increasing wherever conditions favour some plant features over others. Where new plants appear from seed in the likely survivor shape (while the unlikely ones succumb), diversification into a new form, variety, subspecies or eventually species may ensue; speciation is taking place (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Manning, 2007; iNaturalist).