Osteospermum oppositifolium involucre

Only the lowest ring of bracts is quite clear to see at the back of this Osteospermum oppositifolium flowerhead. Narrow and green with pointed, red tips, they are accompanied in the involucre by one or two additional rings of bracts completing the basal structure. Some bracts of the inner ring are taller and dark-tipped.

The receptacle or base around the peduncle tip has a smooth green surface with no scales in Osteospermum.

The rays curl back at night, straighten daily until their demise like soldiers (Manning, 2009; Le Roux, et al, 2005; Manning and Goldblatt, 1997).