Drosanthemum hispidum contributing to the spring pageant

Featuring in the well-known Namaqualand spring bloom panorama, Drosanthemum hispidum more than holds its own. In its range of purplish flower colours across the plant’s wide geographical distribution, these dewflower mats present looks that surprise and delight, sometimes confuse as the flower follower travels around.

This vygie is also known in the Kalahari veld. The ground-hugging plants in the scattered stand seen here, not far from Springbok, are easily recognised as related in colouring (Van Rooyen and Van Rooyen, 2019; iNaturalist).