Caputia tomentosa white and woolly

Dressed for a cold winter, the well-jerseyed Caputia tomentosa, aka the matted caputia, bears leaves that don’t answer the question as to any green concealed below. Clothes bring some privacy after all.

But such exceptional apparel also tends to be noticed. The Royal Horticultural Society of the UK has drawn attention to this South African endemic by bestowing the Award of Garden Merit to the plant as an ornamental. Introduction into botanical gardens and horticulture have brought the plant wide renown.

Several earlier name changes might confuse the recognition issue a bit, such as previously having been called Cacalia haworthii, Kleinia tomentosa and Senecio quinquangulatus among several other discarded scientific names. If a film star can change facial appearance at will, why cant a celebrated plant change its name to suit the season?

Something else from the past to notice here is the persistent floral remains that may still contain some seeds. The claw-like involucral bracts that once held a bunch of yellow disc florets are the best preserved component of those memorable days. After flowering each fruit had borne a long-haired white pappus, a ticket for travelling, used in at least some cases (Smith, et al, 2017; iNaturalist; Wikipedia).