Hermannia stricta

Hermannia stricta, known as the desert rose or red bells, is evergreen in an environment with little of that colour. It becomes rounded in shape, densely branched and after rain abundantly covered in winter and spring flowers. The shrublet grows to 60 cm in height, occasionally to 1 m and broader than it is tall. The size suggests that shrub rather than shrublet is the appropriate descriptor. 

A strong and deep taproot is mostly present. The stems are slender, but woody; the leaves oblong, 2 cm long and toothed, mainly near their tips. There are tiny, star-like hairs on the leaves. The plant is palatable to livestock and game. The fruits show five pairs of horns on the surface.

The distribution is mainly the northern Richtersveld, an arid mountainous area just south of the Gariep River, although it is also reported to be found in Namaqualand and the Bushmanland (Williamson, 2010; Manning, 2009; Le Roux, et al, 2005).