Psiadia punctulata flowerheads

Psiadia punctulata is an erect, much branched shrub of about 1 m. Branches are thin and spreading, giving the shrub a sparse, open appearance. The generic name of Psiadia was formed to contain the Greek word psias meaning a drop. This is on account of the sticky drops of a gum-like secretion covering the young twigs, making them sticky to the touch.

The leaves of Psiadia punctulata are simple, lanceolate, shiny and hairless. The leaves are clustered at branch ends. Leaf margins are finely toothed.

The yellow capitula or flowerheads are borne in terminal flat-topped clusters. They give the clue that Psiadia belongs to the Asteraceae or daisy family. Although there are not obvious ray florets around the discs, the outside ring of florets are different, the female ones, while the male florets occupy the disc centres (Van Wyk and Malan, 1997; Blundell, 1987; Germishuizen and Fabian, 1982).