Hermannia stricta

Hermannia stricta, commonly known as desert rose or red bells and in Afrikaans as rooi-opslag (red regrowth), is evergreen in an environment with little of that colour. The plant becomes rounded in shape, densely branched and after rain abundantly covered in winter and spring flowers. Growing to 60 cm in height, occasionally to 1 m, and broader than it is tall, it is a shrub. A strong and deep taproot is usually present. The straight, woody stems are slender.

The leaves are oblong, channelled and toothed towards their tips. There are tiny, star-like hairs on the leaves. The leaves are up to 2 cm long. 

The species distribution is in the Northern Cape, mainly the northern Richtersveld just south of the lower Gariep River, although it is also reported somewhat further south in Namaqualand, Bushmanland and southern Namibia.

The habitat is arid rocky slopes of desert-like mountainous places. The habitat population is deemed of least concern early in the twenty first century.

H. burchellii of the Kalahari duneveld bearing scarlet flowers is similar.

The plant is palatable to livestock and game (Van Rooyen and Van Rooyen, 2019; Williamson, 2010; Manning, 2009; Le Roux, et al, 2005; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).