Sericocoma avolans gras-bo-bos-onder flowers

The grass-like inflorescences of Sericocoma avolans grow at the stem-tips, above the bushy part of the plant. They are pinkish purple at one stage, turning pale and later ashen as they age.

The individual florets grow in a spike from the axils of bracts, often two bisexual flowers together, the rest reduced to spines. There are glassy-looking bracteoles below the florets. The five tepals of each floret are densely woolly and joined at the base. There are five stamens. The ovoid ovary contains one ovule and a slender style ending in a head-like stigma.

The fruit is a thin-walled capsule positioned inside the perianth. The oblong seed is compressed and folded.

Bloomtime is from midsummer to autumn.

The plants are highly palatable, much browsed and often reduced to low, woody stumps that recover quickly after rain (Van Rooyen and Van Rooyen, 2019; Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Shearing and Van Heerden, 2008; Leistner, (Ed.), 2000; JSTOR; iNaturalist).