Eriocephalus species

Eriocephalus shrubs or kapokbosse in Afrikaans (i.e. snow bushes), are hard to identify from one picture. There are many species and subspecies endemic to South Africa (and also Namibia). They have small flowers and leaves, with some slight variations, requiring careful inspection of the plant to arrive at the correct name.

Many Eriocephalus species grow along the drier parts of coastal land and in arid inland parts, like the Karoo. They have clearly adapted through the smallness of their leaves, the fine velvety leaf coverings and leaf succulence, to cope with the harsh temperatures and water shortage conditions of this habitat. This specimen was photographed somewhere in Namaqualand. After the small daisy-like white flowers disappear, many of the Eriocephalus plants produce these fluffy seeds that gave them the name snow bush.