Leysera gnaphalodes new buds around the yellow

The stem-tip flowerheads of this Leysera gnaphalodes plant seen in the Salmonsdam Nature Reserve started off solitary, but no longer! A ring of globose, brownish buds peep out from around the ray floret tips, promising more yellowness for the already conspicuous stem tips.

The about five rows of involucral bracts firmly gripping the buds of tomorrow’s heads are glandular and papery.

The green of stem leaves in picture is not very convincing on this plant (Curtis-Scott, et al, 2020; Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Manning, 2007; Le Roux, et al, 2005; Manning and Goldblatt, 1996; iNaturalist).