Winter Daisy – Osteospermum moniliferum

Osteospermum moniliferum – Previously known as Chrysanthemoides monilifera

Common Name: Tick berry, brother berry, bush-tick berry (Eng.); Bietou (Afr.)

Tree Number: 736.1


The bright flowers are typical daisy-like and is made up of many individual densely arranged tubular male and female flowers.
This large rounded shrub is seen all over the Reserve and is predominant during the winter and spring months.

 
The leaves are oval to broadly lanceolate, its young leaves are covered with dense cobweb-like hairs which become smooth with age.


The fruit is unique, deviating from all other members of the daisy family. It is fleshy, egg-shaped, edible and sweet and is enjoyed by humans, birds and monkeys.  This plant hosts the larvae of a number of butterflies and bees, ants and beetles are attracted to the flowers.