Gazania

Gaertner

Fruct. Sem. Pl. 2: 451, plate 173, fig. 2. 1791.

Common names: Treasure-flower
Etymology: Greek gaza, riches or royal treasure, alluding to splendor of flowers or for Theodorus of Gaza (1398–1478), who translated the works of Theophrastus
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 19. Treatment on page 196. Mentioned on page 48, 195.

Perennials [annuals, shrubs], [5–]10–35 cm (often cespitose, not prickly, sometimes with milky sap). Stems usually erect (often ± congested; rootstocks often woody). Leaves usually mostly basal, sometimes cauline as well; petiolate or sessile; blades linear to lanceolate, spatulate or oblanceolate, margins entire or pinnately lobed, abaxial faces white-woolly, adaxial usually glabrate or glabrous, sometimes arachnose. Involucres ± campanulate, turbinate, or cylindric, [5–]10–15+ mm diam. Phyllaries in 2–4 series, connate 1/2–3/4 their lengths, margins ± scarious, apices acute, abaxial faces glabrous [arachnose to tomentose]. Receptacles conic or convex, deeply alveolate (pits enclosing cypselae, their margins often ciliate). Ray florets neuter; corollas yellow, orange, or red to maroon (usually each with darker abaxial stripe and a darker adaxial spot or blotch near base), laminae 5-veined, 4-toothed. Disc florets bisexual, fertile; corollas yellow to orange. Cypselae obovoid, ribs 0, faces villous; pappi persistent, of 7–8[–12+], lanceolate to subulate-aristate scales in 2 series (± hidden by hairs on cypselae). x = 9.

Distribution

Introduced; South Africa, Namibia, tropical East Africa, cultivated and/or introduced elsewhere.

Discussion

Species ca. 20 (1 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

... more about "Gazania"
Alison McKenzie Mahoney +
Gaertner +
Treasure-flower +
South Africa +, Namibia +, tropical East Africa +  and cultivated and/or introduced elsewhere. +
Greek gaza, riches or royal treasure, alluding to splendor of flowers +  and or for Theodorus of Gaza (1398–1478), who translated the works of Theophrastus +
Fruct. Sem. Pl. +
Compositae +
Gazania +
Asteraceae tribe Arctotideae +