Hoplophyllum spinosum

Hoplophyllum spinosum, previously (long ago) known as Pteronia spinosa, is a spiny shrub growing many rigid branches to heights from 50 cm to 1,5 m. Neither a well-known, nor a highly characteristic member of the Asteraceae family, the species represents an interesting direction, additional to the many forms daisy-type flowering plants have evolved.

The genus comprises only two species, the other one being H. ferox, an even lesser known plant growing in few succulent Karoo settings near Vanrhynsdorp and the western Karoo. Hoplophyllum is related to the Eremothamnus genus of spiny plants that are hairier with flowerheads also bearing ray florets; Hoplophyllum only has disc florets.

The distribution of H. spinosum is in the Western Cape and the Northern Cape from the Richtersveld, the Namaqua Coastal Plain, the Knersvlakte and certain northerly parts of the Western Cape, like the Maskam Farm near Vanrhynsdorp where the photo was taken.

The habitat is sandy flats. The species is not considered threatened in habitat early in the twenty first century (Le Roux, et al, 2005; Leistner, (Ed.), 2000; iNaturalist; Wikipedia; http://redlist.sanbi.org).