Gazania rigida flowerhead

Gazania ray floret markings are generally diverse between and within species, often little help in species identification. This Gazania rigida flowerhead has purplish markings with dark, brush-like upper extensions. The plant grows in a Biedouw Valley colony that mainly presents pale brown ray floret markings ending in dark extensions.

The broadly elliptic to slightly obovate ray blades are claw-like at the base around the disc of many fertile florets. The rays are sterile.

Ray shapes, sizes and colouring also have many interspecies similarities and intraspecies differences (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Manning, 2007; Manning and Goldblatt, 1997; iNaturalist).