Flora of New Zealand Series

little pickles

Trailing perennial, becoming somewhat woody toward base. Stems glabrous, much-branched, sometimes rooting at nodes. Lvs glabrous except for tufts of hairs at base, apetiolate, succulent, light green, reddish at apex, terete, obovoid-cylindric, entire, pointed, (7)-10-20-(25) mm long, scattered along stem or in whorls at base of infl. Capitula solitary or paired. Involucral bracts 8-9, ovate-elliptic to oblong, 4-6 mm long. Ray florets c. 10-15; ligules yellow, 3.5-8 mm long. Achenes not seen.

N.: one early collection from Rangitoto Id; S.: established locally between Port Nelson and Tahunanui, and at Moncks Bay and Scarborough Hill (Sumner, Christchurch).

South Africa 1959

Crevices in coastal cliffs.

FL Jan-Dec.

O. capensis is cultivated on banks and in rock gardens, and is grown as a pot plant. It spreads vegetatively but probably also produces good seed.