October

What’s flowering in October?


APIACEAE Annesorhiza macrocarpa Wilde anyswortel This is a perennial of 1.6 m. They start flowering in September, and leaves are absent during flowering period. The flowers are usually showy and pale yellow.	ASTERACEAE Arctotheca Calendula Cape Weed An aromatic annual herb. Flowers from July to October.

IRIDACEAE Babiana nana Flowers from September to October more or less in the pathway.	IRIDACEAE Babiana tubiflora Bobbejaantjie Flowers are either uniformly creamy-white, or with red marks on the lower tepals. Flowering from September to October, seen often on the edges of the pathways.

EUPHORBIACEAE Euphorbia caput-medusae Medusa’s head, Vingerpol A sprawling shrublet with warty, club-shaped branches. It flowers from September to November.	SCROPHULARIACEAE Manulea thyrsiflora Vingertjies This perennial bush of about 60cm is found near the R27. Flowers in spring from September to December displaying greenish to golden yellow flowers in upright clusters.

ZYGOPHYLLACEAE Zygophyllum morgsana Slaaibos This plant has fleshy leaves and is also called Twinleaf plant. These bushes of 1.5 m tall are covered in yellow flowers in spring. Flowers have 4 petals which turn into 4 winged seeds (slightly fleshy). The Zygophyllums lose all their leaves in winter.	EUPHORBIACEAE Euphorbia mauritanica Geel Melkbos The yellow tips of these bushes make a striking display from August to October. The plant contains a sticky latex.

ASTERACEAE Metalasia muricata Blombos Flowers here from August to November. The bushes of up to 1.5 m are covered in white flowerheads and create a very prominent display.	ASTERACEAE Eriocephalus racemosus Kapokbos; Wild Rosemary An erect grey-silky shrub of 1.5 m. Has a fragrance similar to rosemary when touched and an important source of aromatic essential oils for perfumes. The small white flowers turn woolly after a while and the shrub has a snowy, or cotton wool appearance. Eriocephalus means woolly head. Can be seen from August to October.

AIZOACEAE Ruschia macowanii Pers vygiebos A round succulent bush covered in mauve flowers (vygies). Flowers from August to October.	AIZOACEAE Jordaaniella dubia Helder kruip vygie This creeping plant,with bright yellow flowers. has vertical succulent leaves like pencils mostly the same length.

SCROPHULARIACEAE Selago Bitter bush; Aarbossie Small shrubs of about 30 cm with clusters of tiny white flowers. They flower for a few months, starting late spring. The vernacular “aarbossie” refers to the preference of the shrubs to situations overlying arterial water.	SCROPHULARIACEAE Zaluzianskya villosa Drumsticks; Verfblommetjie The delicate flowers are white or pink, and form a carpet from August to November. Frequent in sandy places on flats and slopes. Certain species are used as dyes.

NEURADACEAE Grielum grandiflorum Desert primrose; Duikerwortel This annual herb flowers from August to October, but the leaves are visible for much longer, forming a grey-green mat.	SCROPHULARIACEAE Nemesia affinis Cape snapgragon Leeubekkie An annual herb which flowers from August to November. The flower has 2 lips: the upper has 4 lobes and the lower 2. Often found with yellow Senecios.

ASTERACEAE Oncosiphon suffruticosum Stinkweed Huge clusters of tiny yellow flower heads are seen from September to January. Slightly foetid-smelling when bruised. Often found in waste ground.	ASTERACEAE Felicia tenella Astertjies They flower from August to November and are abundant on coastal dunes of the South Western Cape. Blue, violet or white ray petals. Felicia meaning Happy and Tenella meaning Slender.

GERANIACEAE Pelargonium capitatum Kusmalva This is a low-growing shrub with velvety leaves and pink flowers almost throughout the year. They have a sweet geranium smell when touched.	GERANIACEAE Pelargonium myrrhifolium fruticosum Wit malva The off-white flowers are seen from September to November. The 2 upper petals are wider than the lower ones.

POLYGALACEAE Muraltia Spinosa Skilpadbessie An attractive, spiny shrub with lateral branches. It is covered in small pink or white pea flowers that develop into dark orange edible berries in summer. As early as 1685 when Simon vd Stel travelled to Namaqualand they were reported to be thirst-quenching. Flowers from August to October.	SOLANACEAE Lycium ferocissimum Slangbessie Thorny shrub of up to 2 m, flowering from July to October. The red berries which appear towards November are edible.

CRASSULACEAE Cotyledon orbiculata Plakkie; Dog’s ear A succulent shrublet with velvety leaves. It bears clusters of nodding, tubular flowers with a dull red colour. Flowers from October to December. Very easy to grow. Pollinated by birds and bees.	MALVACEAE Hermannia Poprosie (Dolls’ Rose) Flowers from September to January. They are known as the porcelain bells of South Africa. They grow from an underground rootstock which helps them to survive droughts and fires. There are 4 different species of Hermannia on this walk - all have nodding flowerheads. The flowers of this one have smaller openings and are yellow, but turn orange after being pollinated.

Flowering Plants

October

What’s flowering in October?