SCALY BUTTONS

(Leptorhynchos squamatus)

(Photos: E. Cousins)

It’s the stalk of this plant that is scaly, not the leaf or flower! The flowers are like little yellow buttons, and are produced on long, thin, brown stalks which have scaly leaflets on them. (‘Squamatus’ means ‘scales’.) Note also the cup-shaped base underneath the flower, and the scales on this as well … a distinguishing feature. The plant is really only shin high, with the flowers sitting above the foliage. Its very green leaves are lance-shaped, and have white hairs on the underside. Clumps of this perennial herb grow to about 40cm across. This is an adaptable and hardy plant, tolerant of frost and drought, useful characteristics for Cape Jervis gardens!