Osteospermum

Template:Short description Template:Automatic taxobox

Osteospermum Template:IPAc-en,Template:Refn<ref>Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606–607</ref> is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the Calenduleae, one of the smaller tribes of the sunflower/daisy family Asteraceae.<ref name="Journal">Template:Cite journal</ref> They are known as the daisybushes<ref>Template:PLANTS</ref> or African daisies.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Its species have been given several common names, including African daisy, South African daisy, Cape daisy and blue-eyed daisy.

In horticulture, several widely cultivated species continue to be sold, grown and referred to as Osteospermum, however some of these species have been scientifically reclassified as being members of the genus Dimorphotheca, including Dimorphotheca barberae (synonym Osteospermum barberae);<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Dimorphotheca ecklonis (synonym Osteospermum ecklonis),<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Dimorphotheca fruticosa (synonym Osteospermum fruticosum);<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and Dimorphotheca jucunda (synonym Osteospermum jucundum).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

DescriptionEdit

Their alternate (rarely opposite) leaves are green, but some variegated forms exist. The leaf form is lanceolate. The leaf margin is entire, but hardy types are toothed.

The daisy-like composite flower consists of disc florets and ray florets, growing singly at the end of branches or sometimes in inflorescences of terminal corymbose cymes. The disc florets are pseudo-bisexual and come in several colors such as blue, yellow and purple. The hardy types usually show a dark blue center in the disc until the yellow pollen is shed. The ray florets are female and are found in diverse colors such as white, cream, pink, purple, mauve, and yellow. Some cultivars have "spooned" petals such as "Pink Whirls".<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Many species flower a second time late summer, stimulated by the cooler night temperatures. Hardy types show profuse flowering in the spring, but they do not get a second flush of flowers.

TaxonomyEdit

The genus Osteospermum was named by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. The scientific name is derived from the Greek osteon (bone) and Latin spermum (seed). Plants of the World Online and the South African National Biodiversity Institute accept a broad definition of the genus, which is a sister taxon to Dimorphotheca. Other authorities treat its generic synonyms (Chrysanthemoides, Oligocarpus, etc.) as separate genera.<ref name="POWO_10323-1"/><ref>Wessel Swanpoel, Vera de Cauwer and Abraham E. Van Wyk (2020) A new species of Osteospermum subgen. Tripteris (Asteraceae: Calenduleae) from the Namib Desert, Namibia. Phytotaxa 487 (3): 185–194 26 February 2021. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.487.3.1</ref>

SpeciesEdit

74 species are accepted:<ref name="POWO_10323-1"/>

Formerly placed hereEdit

Dimorphotheca barberae — synonym Osteospermum barberae Template:Small)
Dimorphotheca ecklonis — Cape marguerite, blue-and-white daisybush (synonym Osteospermum ecklonis Template:Small)
Dimorphotheca fruticosa — Trailing African daisy, shrubby daisybush (synonym Osteospermum fruticosum Template:Small)
Dimorphotheca jucunda Template:Small — South African daisy (synonym Osteospermum jucundum Template:Small)

DistributionEdit

There are about 70 species native to southern and eastern Africa and the Arabian peninsula.<ref name="POWO_10323-1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

CultivationEdit

Osteospermum are popular in cultivation, where they are frequently used in summer bedding schemes in parks and gardens. Numerous hybrids and cultivars have been grown with a wide range of tropical colors. Yellow cultivars tend to have a yellow center (sometimes off-white).

Plants prefer a warm and sunny position and rich soil, although they tolerate poor soil, salt or drought well. Modern cultivars flower continuously when watered and fertilised well, and dead-heading is not necessary, because they do not set seed easily. If planted in a container, soil should be prevented from drying out completely. If they do, the plants will go into "sleep mode" and survive the period of drought, but they will abort their flower buds and not easily come back into flower. Moreover, roots are relatively susceptible to rotting if watered too profusely after the dry period.

CultivarsEdit

Most widely sold cultivars are grown as annuals, are mainly hybrids of O. jucundum, O. ecklonis and O. grandiflorum and can be hardy to -2 °C (30 °F). If hardy, they can be grown as perennials or as shrubs.

Cultivars (those marked Template:Smallcaps have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit):<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

File:White Spoon Osteospermum.JPG

'White Spoon'

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'Acapulco'
'African Queen'
'Apricot'
'Biera'
'Big Pink'
'Blackthorn Seedling' Template:Smallcaps<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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'Bodegas Pink'
'Buttermilk' Template:Smallcaps<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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'Chris Brickell'
'Duet'
'Giles Gilbey'
'Hopleys' Template:Smallcaps<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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'Ice White'
'Langtrees Template:Smallcaps<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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'Lady Leitrim' Template:Smallcaps<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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'Lilac Spoon'
'Marbella'
'Merriments Joy'
'Nairobi Purple'
O. jucundum Template:Smallcaps<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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'Passion Mix'
'Pink'
'Pink Beauty'
'Pink Whirls' Template:Smallcaps<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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'Silver Sparkler' Template:Smallcaps<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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'Soprano'
'Starshine'
'Springstar Gemma'
'Sunkist'
'Weetwood' <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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'White Pim' Template:Smallcaps<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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'White Spoon'
'White Whirls'
'Whirlygig'

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Image galleryEdit

Osteospermum tomentosum - Bonnievale renosterveld 2.jpg

Osteospermum tomentosum
Purple osteospermum.JPG

'Passion Mix'
P1010020-a.jpg

'Lemon Symphony' (an annual cultivar)
Sunadora marbella2.jpg

Osteospermum 'Sunadora Hotspots Marbella', a modern hybrid
Sunadora acapulco.jpg

Osteospermum 'Sunadora Hotspots Acapulco', another modern hybrid
Osteospermum Flower Power Spider Purple 2134px.jpg

An osteospermum displayed as part of the 2008 Penn State horticultural trials
African daisy (Osteospermum sp. 'Pink Whirls').jpg

Osteospermum 'Pink Whirls'
Osteospermum.Pink Whirls04.jpg

'Pink Whirls' close-up
Osteospermum in palestine 2.jpg
Osteospermum in palestine.jpg
Pink flower 095549.jpg
Osteospermum flower 2.jpg

Osteospermum Cape Daisy 'Pink bicolor'
Osteospermum flower.jpg

Osteospermum Sunset shades