Syncarpha milleflora flowerheads

The flowerheads of Syncarpha milleflora grow in large compact clusters at stem tips in spring and summer. The shrublets are notably erect with a few tall branches. The milleflora specific name suggests a thousand flowers being present per cluster of flowerheads, for those that may care to count them.

When young, as in this photo taken on a fynbos slope in September not far from Oudtshoorn, the flat-topped head is pink from bracts not yet spread open. As flowerheads open, the tiny cream coloured discs become exposed. The fading bracts become less visible, rendering the appearance of the flowerhead whitish or pale cream. Each open flowerhead in the cluster measures about 5 mm across.

The shrub grows erect, densely leaved stems. They show a silvery grey sheen from the woolly hairs on their leaves. The leaves are lanceolate with entire margins. The population of this species in nature is stable early in the twenty first century (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; www.redlist.sanbi.org).