Heterolepis aliena

The rock daisy, as Heterolepis aliena is commonly known, has needle-like leaves varying in length between 1,5 cm and 3 cm. They are crowded at the tips of the many branched stems, curving slightly inwards. The margins are rolled under and sparsely toothed. The lower leaf surface, what little can be seen of it, is white with woolliness

The species distribution is from the Cape Peninsula to the southwest of the Northern Cape and eastwards to Worcester and Caledon. The plant in the photo, seen flowering among rocks in Bainskloof during October, has fairly grey leaf colouring, although not as cobwebby as those growing on the Peninsula and around Caledon. Sandstone slopes, particularly rocky crevices are the common habitat. The species is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (Manning, 2007; iSpot; http://redlist.sanbi.org).