Gazania lichtensteinii

Gazania lichtensteinii (Afrikaans: geelgousblom, "yellow calendula") is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, native to South Africa (Western Cape and Northern Cape provinces) and Namibia.

[1] This annual plant can be either compact and acaulescent, or form longer stems, and reaches up to 20 cm in height.

Like many other Gazania species, the flowers are yellow and approximately 4 cm in diameter.

[2] Distinguishing characteristics of this species are the glabrous (smooth) involucres, which are slender in shape with a truncate base that often appears to have clear collar around it.

Young seedlings grow best on rough, barren ground where there is little competition from established plants.

Gazania lichtensteinii specimen showing the distinctively smooth, slender involucres with flat or truncate bases.