Botanical name
Zyrphelis corymbosaFamily
AsteraceaeCommon Name
Plume Aster, Kaapse AstertjieSynonym (old name)
Gymnostephium papposum; Mairia corymbosaStatus
Endangered
Description
Soft shrublet up to 60cm. Leaves glossy, overlapping, usually deflexed, roughly scabrid on margins, up to 3cm long. Flowers about 20mm across, usually pale-blue, but may be white or pink, on sandpapery stems; a few rows of hairy, green, pointed bracts below. This is a localised habitat specialist, declining due to competition from invasive alien plants.
Habitat
Sandstone south-facing slopes usually near streams
Flower Date
June to September