Species

Dimorphotheca fruticosa

Etymology

fruticosa: shrubby

Common Name(s)

dimorphotheca

Family

Asteraceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Exotic

NVS Species Code

OSTFRU

The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs - Composites

Synonyms

Osteospermum fruticosum

Habitat

Terrestrial. Sand and coastal sites.

Features

Perennial herb, becoming woody at the base often forming dense mats. The leaves are alternately arranged on procumbent stems. Leaves are fleshy, toothed and are up to 10 x 2.5 cm. Daisy-like flowers are produced with white-mauve petals and dark central disc. Many small seeds are produced.

Similar Taxa

Can be distinguished form the closely related O. jucundum by the white ligule. The ligule is pink to mauve on O. jucundum

Flowering

August, September, October, November, December, January

Flower Colours

Violet / Purple,White

Year Naturalised

1977

Origin

South Africa

Reason For Introduction
Ornamental

Reproduction
Vegetative spread by layering, and seed.

Seed
Viable seeds are produced.

Dispersal
People, soil movement.

Tolerances
Very tolerant of salt.

This page last updated on 15 Aug 2018