Hermannia flammea

Hermannia flammea or doll’s rose is a sparsely branched, erect, dwarf shrub. It grows to heights from 60 cm to 80 cm and often becomes hairy with age.

The leaves are green, wedge-shaped and toothed at the tips.

The common name of doll’s rose is shared with other members of the genus. Other common names for the plant include granny’s bonnets, which may refer to the pointy shape of the calyx and night smelling honey bells. The honey bells name is also ascribed to other species of Hermannia.

The specific name, flammea, is derived from the Latin word, flammeus meaning fiery, blazing or flame-coloured, referring to the flower colour.

The species is found in the Western and Eastern Cape.

The habitat is coastal grassy slopes of sandy and clayey soils. The species is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (Curtis-Scott, et al, 2020; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; Gledhill, 1981; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).