Osteospermum scariosum, the skaapbos

Osteospermum scariosum is a perennial producing multicoloured daisies for a little longer than spring. Both the flowerheads and the purplish, winged fruits are eye-catching. This plant was spotted on a slaty slope in the west of the Little Karoo near Barrydale.

Commonly known as skaapbos, these plants are readily browsed, also in the inland regions where sheep farming predominates (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Manning, 2007; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist; JSTOR).