African daisy

Senecio pterophorus

An upright herbaceous plant or small bushy shrub usually growing 1-1.5 m tall. Its greyish-green stems that are ribbed lengthwise and the lower parts of the stems develop distinctive toothed 'wings'. These 'wings' extend down from the bases of the lance-shaped leaves. These leaves have coarsely toothed or entire margins, green upper surfaces, and whitish woolly undersides. Its small flower-heads (12-15 mm across) have several yellow 'petals' and a darker yellow centre. Its reddish-brown or dark brown ribbed 'seeds' (1.5-2 mm long) are topped with a ring of silky hairs (up to 5 mm long).