Oedera genistifolia ("Klein Perdekaroo") is a prickly shrublet belonging to the family Asteraceae.

Oedera genistifolia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Oedera
Species:
O. genistifolia
Binomial name
Oedera genistifolia
(L.) Anderb. & K.Bremer
Synonyms
  • Relhania genistifolia

It is an abundant and common species in the southwestern cape, South Africa (Namaqualand to Grahamstown). It is most commonly found on lower north-facing slopes, especially on rocky clay and shale based soils.

Description

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Oedera genistifolia is a small (60cm high), erect shrublet. The leaves, which grow densely packed along the stems, are small (15mm), thin (3mm), straight, suberect, usually mucronate, and slightly furry along their margins and lower midrib.

The leaf has a short point (mucro) at its tip, which is usually slightly hooked downwards.

The leaf surfaces are also glandular, and the surface of the young leaves is slightly sticky.

The yellow flowerheads appear in Spring. They are 10mm wide, and are born on short stalks (2-10mm)

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It resembles Oedera squarrosa, which however has leaves that are broader and more spreading-recurved.[1]

References

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  1. ^ "Factsheet -Oedera genistifolia".