Euryops speciosissimus, Pronkharpuis

Also known as Clanwilliam Daisy, Clanwilliamharpuis, Harpuisbos, Langbeenharpuis, or Resin Bush 

I am sad to say that it is on the SANBI Red List of South African plants.

The name of this species indicates that the plant must be something special. The Latin word speciosissimus means spectacular or the showiest of all. 

It grows in dry fynbos on rocky sandstone slopes and in valleys in the Vanrhynsdorp, Clanwilliam, Piketberg, and Tulbagh districts. 

It is a vigorous shrub, 0.45-2.5 m high, strongly resiniferous, and smooth. Branches leafy in the upper part, bare below. Leaves (40-60)-200 mm long, needle-like with up to 7 to each side of the central nerve. Individual flower heads are borne on stout stems 80-400 mm long. Outer bracts of flower heads are fused into a deep cup that is inflated in the lower half and narrowing into a beak towards the open end, 8-15 mm high. Flower heads are large, up to 90 mm in diameter, with 16-35 ray florets, the rays 17-45 mm long, and yellow color. Central disc florets are numerous (100-400). Seeds are 6-7 mm long and without hairs.

Flowering is mainly from August to November but may start in July and continue into January. 

I took the following photo’s just outside of Citrusdal on 1 August 2020. This was the first time I have captured this beautiful flower. I went back to my archives to see if I captured it in 2013 when I did the Tour de Sanparks. Not one photo…. I feel very blessed that I got a chance to capture it forever.

Thank you very much for taking the time to read my post. I hope you also learned something new today.

Have a fabulous day. Till next time, please stay safe and healthy.

Coreen