West Coast National Park Flower Guide

[Klipspringer]

Romulea hirsuta Froetang



Perennial, usually branching above ground, 6–10 cm. Leaves usually 2, basal. Flowering stem branching. Flowers coppery orange or pink to red, with dark markings or streaks at the rim of the wide yellow cup.

[Klipspringer]

Lampranthus aureus Golden Vygie



This vygie is a neatly rounded, erect, small shrub that grows up to about 400 x 500 mm. The leaves are paired, free or slightly fused at the base, dark green and grow to 50 mm. The most attractive aspect of the plant is its unbelievably bright orange flowers. The shiny orange flowers are borne singly or in clusters on short stalks, are 60 mm in diameter and appear from August. Yellow forms also occur. Flowers are followed by a woody fruit capsule that has five locules (locules are little compartments in which the seeds are borne).

The plants are pollinated by insects in the middle of the day when flowers are fully open. The leaves, swollen with water, ensure the survival of the plant during long, hot and dry spells. Brightly coloured flowers are advertisements to pollinators and ensure seed production. Another adaptation for survival is the abundance of seeds that is produced. The more seeds there are, the better the chances of germination and ultimately the survival of the species. These plants will only disperse their seeds once water has become available. Seeds are able to survive in the capsule for many, many months. When it rains, the capsule swells up and opens, and the splashing drops displace seeds onto the ground where they will germinate quickly. In this way, precious seeds are not wasted if there is insufficient water.

[Richprins]

Thanks for this plant book, Klippies!

[Klipspringer]

Amphibolia laevis Strandvygie



A low perennial succulent shrub usually to 20 cm, but can grow up till 50cm high. Flower petals pale pink with a dark central line. The leaves are boat shaped in diameter, smooth, opposite, can grow to 1.5cm long. The fruit capsules are woody and has 5 locules which opens when it gets wet to spread the seeds and close when dry.
This species occurs along the West Coast of the Western Cape, from Vredendal to Melkbosstrand.

[Lisbeth]

Pink? Looks more like lilac to me

[Klipspringer]

Pale mauve

[Lisbeth]

It looks pale because there is a lot of white, but pale mauve is better than pink

[Klipspringer]

Osteospermum monstrosum Trekkertjie, Dark-eyed Windowseed



Erect, aromatic annual herb up to 40cm. Leaves inversely sword-shaped, toothed to lobed, up to 8cm long, sparsely covered with hairs. Flowerheads dark purplish, about 10mm in diameter, borne singly or in small groups at the end of branched flowering stalks, with pale yellow ray florets that are brown at the base; floral bracts arranged in 2 rows, broad with transparent margins.