Gazania krebsiana, dark-leaved in the Karoo

Gazania krebsiana is a tufted perennial that reaches 20 cm in height. Its leaves may either be simple or divided into narrow segments with rough upper surfaces. The margins are rolled under, the lower leaf surfaces white felted.

Solitary flowerheads grow above the flowers on hollow peduncles. The flowerheads have yellow, orange or reddish ray florets arranged in one ring around the disc florets. They become 3 cm to 4 cm in diameter. There are dark markings at the base of each ray floret. The involucre comprises a few rows of hairless or slightly hairy bracts.

This specimen was photographed in the Karoo National Park near Beaufort West during May, well past its normal flowering season. The shallow root system would help the plant to respond to out of season rain showers (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; Manning, 2009; iSpot www.plantzafrica.com).