Eriocephalus purpureus flowerheads

The flowerheads of Eriocephalus purpureus grow in clusters or solitary from tips of leafy side-branches (brachyblasts). The slender, sparsely felted stalks of the flowerheads become from 6 mm to 12 mm long. The five broadly ovate bracts below have membranous, coloured tips.

The flowerhead is purple on its central disc and shades of mauve or purple on the two or three ray florets spreading around it. The (female) rays are roughly wedge-shaped to oblong, two- or three-lobed in picture and about 7 mm long. Some pale anthers are visible over the disc florets.

Flowering happens from end autumn to early spring. The photo was taken in August (Manning, 2007; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist; JSTOR).