Eriocephalus africanus (Wild rosemary, Cape snowbush)

Wilderoosmaryn, Kapokbossie, Kapokbos [Afrikaans]

Life > eukaryotes > Archaeoplastida > Chloroplastida > Charophyta > Streptophytina > Plantae (land plants) > Tracheophyta (vascular plants) > Euphyllophyta > Lignophyta (woody plants) > Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Angiospermae (flowering plants) > Eudicotyledons > Core Eudicots > Asterids > Euasterid II > Family: Asteraceae > Tribe: Anthemideae > Genus: Eriocephalus

Eriocephalus africanus (Wild rosemary, Cape snowbush) growing along roadside south of Malmesbury, Western Cape, South Africa. [photo H. Robertson ©]

Shrub, growing to about 1 m high, native from southern Namaqualand to the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Flowerhead develops into a woolly tuft that is harvested by birds to line their nests. Essential oils are extracted from the aromatic leaves for use in perfumes.

References

• Manning, J. 2007. Field Guide to Fynbos. Struik Publishers, Cape Town.