Spiky Dollsbush – Dicoma anomala

 

 

The Dicoma genus as discussed in last week’s post was recently split into three separate genii and also forms part of the daisy family – Asteraceae. The distinguishing features of this genus are: The leaves are alternate and mostly toothless and may be white felted and soft textured.  The flowers are discoid and thistle-like with several rows of narrow dark striped bracts, which may be curved and hairy with spiny tips.  The florets are generally white or purple with deeply back curving 5 lobed petals.  Dicoma was derived from the Greek words, di meaning two, and kome, meaning tuft of hair, referring to the double row of pappus bristles.  The species name anomala  is Latin and means irregular or deviating from the normal.

The Spiky Dollsbush is a low growing or prostrate perennial herb with an underground tuber from which several erect stems arise. The narrow, sessile leaves have a white felt-like texture on the underside.  The stems are also thinly covered with hairs.

The flowers appear from January through to May and appear either solitary or in small groups on terminal stems. The flower heads are between 15-30mm in diameter and each tubular floret may be white, mauve, purple or pink.  The fruit are flask-shaped, ribbed and borne in a bristled pappus.  The seeds are dispersed by wind dispersion.

The plants I found were in the same area as the Doll’s Protea – Macledium zeyheri I discussed last week. They like very similar conditions – stony grasslands and savanna through eastern and central South Africa, on doleritic or sandy soils.  The plants are often used in traditional medicine as a tonic as well as for various respiratory and gastrointestinal ailments.  The most common form of medications is a decoction made from the woody rootstock.

A little whimsy – Hazel Yewshimmer

She casts spells of enchantment. She can only be seen when the first flowers begin to blossom. She wears black feathers and rose petals and has russet-coloured wings like a brightly coloured butterfly.