Striga bilabiata
Common name: Small Witchweed; Sotho name: seona; Zulu name: isinone esimhlophe

Winter hills are gorgeously coloured in bronze, copper and gold.  Wandering through the grassland reveals little jewels, like this small Striga bilabiata, spotted recently in Mooi River.  The bright pink flowers with prominent veins are borne on hairy, plum coloured stems. It should not really be flowering at this time of year, but with Climate Change affecting all species on our planet we should expect more surprises and unusual behaviour. 

Creating biodiversity corridors to allow species to move and adapt to changes, and conserving the last remaining moist mist-belt grasslands, which are home to 44% of mammals and a vast array of endangered plant species, is of utmost importance. Currently only 3% of original area is protected. See www.midlandsconservancies.org.za for local biodiversity stewardship initiatives.

Click on any of the links below to see another Dargle wildflower