Dyschoriste setigera

Dyschoriste setigera, sometimes commonly called fairy stars and previously scientifically Chaetacanthus setiger, is an evergreen, resprouting perennial or shrublet growing several stems from a woody rootstock to heights between 15 cm and 30 cm. The plant is hairy on leaves and stems, some hairs being stalks for glands.

There are several long dark bristle-like and hairy bracts growing around the flower tubes. The specific name, setigera, is derived from the Latin words seta meaning bristle and gerere meaning to bear, referring to these floral bracts.  

The white or blue flowers grow from upper leaf axils, two-lipped and tubular to funnel-shaped. The upper lip is two-lobed, the lower one three-lobed, the lobes oblong and somewhat truncate, shorter than the tube. The flowers are 1,5 cm long. The stamens and style are slightly exserted. Flowers appear from late winter through summer.

The species distribution is widespread in South Africa, occurring in all provinces excepting the Northern Cape. It also grows in some neighbouring countries. The photo was taken in January at Damhoek on a southern slope of the Magaliesberg in Gauteng.

The habitat is diverse, including rocky grassland. The habitat population is deemed of least concern early in the twenty first century (Euston-Brown and Kruger, 2023; Van Wyk and Malan, 1997; Leistner, (Ed.), 2000; iNaturalist; iSpot; http://redlist.sanbi.org).