Kleinia longiflora

Kleinia longiflora, commonly known in Afrikaans as sambokbos (sjambok bush) and scientifically previously as Senecio longiflorus, is a tufted shrub reaching heights from 1 m to 1,5 m.

The pencil-thin, cylindrical to faintly, longitudinally ridged stems are segmented and pale green. The stems are usually erect, but may fall over while remaining alive, particularly around the perimeter of the tufts.

Small, bract-like leaves seen in the new growth drop off early. The plant is similar to some bushy, non-spiny euphorbias, but contains no milky latex.

The dull creamy white flowerheads grow in small clusters at stem-tips and on small lateral branches or nodes. The heads are notably elongated, unspectacular, comprising only tubular disc florets. The well exserted stamens are pale yellow. Flowering happens from late autumn to after midspring.

The white, fluffy, stem-tip fruits seen in the photo before their wind dispersal are more conspicuous than the flowers.

The species distribution is widespread in South Africa, the plants occurring in all provinces apart from KwaZulu-Natal. It consistently shuns the coast, apart from in the north of Namaqualand, particularly the Richtersveld. K. longiflora is also found in some drier parts of Africa north of the border. The photo was taken at Prince Albert in the south of the Great Karoo.

The habitat is arid, grassy flats, slopes and ridges. The species is not considered threatened in habitat early in the twenty first century.

The plant is used medicinally, at least by the Venda. In the Karoo the plant used to serve as a source of snuff. The bushes are sometimes browsed by game and stock (Smith, et al, 2017; Shearing and Van Heerden, 2008; Van Wyk and Malan, 1997; Hardy and Fabian, 1992; iNaturalist; http://pza.sanbi.org; http://redlist.sanbi.org).