Dimorphotheca ecklonis forming a mat

Dimorphotheca ecklonis commonly known as the Vanstadens daisy or the Sunday’s River daisy has acquired a range of common names, several not repeated here but available in the literature. This is a sure sign of the plant being noticed by people. Such attention may indicate use of plant parts as food, firewood, in a craft such as building, hunting, weaving or as a health or beauty product. None of these functional applications could be found for this plant, although some plant it in their gardens.

The two common names above indicate the distribution of the species in the Eastern Cape. The river names suggest habitat.

There are some Dimorphotheca species with toxicity to be noted in animal husbandry. Plant toxicity, thorns or hairs evolve as defence mechanisms for keeping herbivores at bay.

Pretty? Human appreciation of floral beauty has helped plant species survive as well as caused their destruction in habitat. Unfortunately, the acquisitive tendency in people, multiplied by commercial boosters has brought some species depletion in nature.

And horticultural tampering with plant attributes for producing "better" plants for human benefit over what exists in nature is a complex issue. It has contributed much to human quality of life and population numbers, but is not always consistent with the best interests of biodiversity (www.plantzafrica.com).