Pteronia incana flowers and fruit

Pteronia incana plant parts present a range of contrasts in form and texture. There is only one lemon-yellow disc floret in picture opening on the right among the multitude of other parts. Its pointed petal tips will spread fully once properly open.

The narrow leaves low down are thickish and white with hairs that diminish moisture loss in the semi-arid habitat where P. incana thrives, including the Biedouw Valley.

Still closed and bunched orange florets may yellow and open later.

Brush-like pappuses on seed-laden fruits will become free to fly their seeds to unknown destinations for new lives… or extinction (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Manning, 2007; Manning and Goldblatt, 1997; iNaturalist).