Euryops virgatus

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Euryops virgatus (B.Nord.)

Family: Asteraceae

Common names: Nieuwoudtville resin bush (Eng.); Nieuwoudtville harpuisbos (Afr.)

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Introduction

Euryops virgatus has an extremely limited distribution area, and there are only three very small populations left, totalling a few hundred plants.

Flowers and leaves

Description

Euryops virgatus is a twiggy shrublet with many branches. The leaves are positioned closely together at the tip of the branches and are 3-15 mm long. The plant grows up to 50 cm.

The tiny, bright yellow daisy-like flowerheads are few or solitary on each branch. Each flowerhead bears yellow ray florets and deep golden yellow disc florets. The flowering period is between June and August.

Growing in situ

Conservation Status

Status

Euryops virgatus is Red Listed as Critically Endangered, and a 20-year project in collaboration with the Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers (CREW) and Indigo Development and Change is underway to track the progress of these plants.

Distribution and habitat

Distribution description

Euryops virgatus is found only at the Hantam National Botanical Garden, Nieuwoudtville, Northern Cape and along a roadside fragment outside Nieuwoudtville. It grows on flat, deep, granular sandy-clay soils transitional between sandstone and tillite where there is a lot of earthworm activity.

Derivation of name and historical aspects

History

The genus name Euryops is derived from the Greek eurys meaning large and ops meaning eye, referring to the round flowerheads. The specific epithet is from the Latin virgatus meaning with long straight shoots.

Ecology

Euryops virgatus is very palatable to sheep and the bushes are heavily browsed, giving them very little chance to flower and therefore hardly any chance to reproduce.

Bush in flower

Uses

Use

There are no recorded uses for this species.

Growing Euryops virgatus

Grow

Euryops virgatus grows very easily from seed and has a nice herbal smell. Harvest the seeds as soon as the seed capsules start to crack. Sow the seeds in April in winter-rainfall areas. The seeds can be sown in open beds filled with river sand. Keep the soil wet and don't allow it to dry out during the germination period. The seeds germinate within six weeks and the seedlings can be transplanted directly into nutrient-rich garden beds, preferably in full sun.

These plants are tolerant of extreme weather conditions and are frost-hardy. They can survive in temperatures ranging from -5°C to 45°C.

References

Goldblatt, P. & Manning, J. 2000. Cape plants: A conspectus of the Cape Flora of South Africa. Strelitzia 9. National Botanical Institute of South Africa, Pretoria & MBG Press, Missouri Botanical Garden, Missouri.
Raimondo, D., Von Staden, L., Foden, W., Victor, J.E., Helme, N.A., Turner, R.C., Kamundi, D.A. & Manyama, P.A. (eds). 2009. Red List of South African plants 2009. Strelitzia 25. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.

Credits

Colleen Rust
Hantam National Botanical Garden
March 2013

Plant Attributes:

Plant Type: Perennial, Shrub

SA Distribution: Northern Cape

Soil type: Clay

Flowering season: Winter

PH: Alkaline

Flower colour: Yellow

Aspect: Full Sun

Gardening skill: Average

Special Features:

Drought resistant

Fragrant

Euryops virgatus