Gazania rigens
| Gazania rigens | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Gazania |
| Species: | G. rigens
|
| Binomial name | |
| Gazania rigens | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Gazania rigens (syn. G. splendens), sometimes called treasure flower, is a
Description
Gazania rigens is a spreading, low-growing,
Like all compounds, gazania flowers in flower heads that are often taken for simple flowers. The capitula are solitary at the end of
Naturalisation
Well adapted to the
In Australia, where it is known as coastal gazania, the species has become naturalised on coastal dunes and roadsides in the Central Coast and Sydney regions of New South Wales as well as the coast of South East Queensland. In South Australia it is found in the southern Mount Lofty area as well as on the Eyre peninsula.[1][2]
Cultivation
Gazania rigens is grown for the brilliant yellow of its blooms which appear against blue-grey foliage in the late spring and throughout the summer. Plants prefer a sunny position and are tolerant of dryness and poor soils. Quite indifferent to the nature of the soil, it looks especially for the sun, its flower heads closing when it is in the shade or when the weather is overcast. It adapts well to drought, heat and strong sun, unlike many other flowers.[3][4]
Flowering from March to October in the
Varieties
The currently recognised varieties are:[6]
- G. rigens (L.) Gaertn. var. leucolaena (DC.) Roessler. This variety has grey-white leaves. Its flower heads are yellow, typically without any basal eye-spots. It naturally occurs along the southern coast of South Africa, from Mossel Bay in the west, to Port Elizabeth in the east.[7]
- G. rigens (L.) Gaertn. var. rigens This variety is distinguished by its large 4- to 8-cm flower heads with yellow or orange rays, each with a basal eye-spot. It is only found in cultivation.[8]
- G. rigens (L.) Gaertn. var. uniflora (L.f.) Roessler This variety has leaves that are smooth and green on their upper surface. Its flower heads are yellow, typically without any basal eye-spots. It naturally occurs along the east coast of South Africa, from Knysna in the west, to southern Mozambique in the east. Where its range overlaps with that of G. rigens var. leucolaena, the two varieties often grow alongside each other.[9]
Gallery
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Gazania rigens var. leucolaena has grey-white felted leaves, and yellow flowerheads without dark markings -
Gazania rigens var. uniflora has smooth green glabrous leaves, and yellow flowerheads without dark markings -
Gazania rigens var. rigens. Yellow flowerhead, with dark markings near the bases of the ray florets (petals) -
Flower cluster
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See also
References
- ^ "Weeds Australia - Weed Identification - Gazania". Archived from the original on 2008-05-14. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
- ^ "Genus Gazania rigens". PlantNET - New South Wales Flora Online. Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney Australia. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
- ^ a b Gazania Growing Guide Growing Interactive Ltd. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
- ^ Gazania (Treasure Flower) Gardenia.net. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
- ISBN 0-376-03507-2.
- ^ "African plants database". Retrieved 2008-04-11.
- ^ "Gazania rigens var. Leucolaena | PlantZAfrica".
- ^ "Aluka - Entry for Gazania rigens var. uniflora L.f. Roessler family Compositae". Archived from the original on 2013-08-01. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
- ^ "Gazania rigens var. Leucolaena | PlantZAfrica".
External links
Media related to Gazania rigens at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Gazania rigens at Wikispecies
