Botanical name |
Kleinia fulgens |
Other names |
Senecio fulgens, scarlet kleinia, coral senecio |
Family |
Asteraceae |
Dimensions |
A perennial multistemmed succulent of about 30 cm; specimens of double the size has been reported |
Description of stem |
Succulent, pale green, erect, sometimes spreading stems |
Description of leaves |
Grey, succulent obovate leaves with a few pairs of prominent lateral teeth on the margins; variable in size and form; sometimes with mauve markings |
Description of flowers |
Capitula with red or cerise disc-florets on long peduncles, tending to remain pendulous until open and again so when the seeds form; bloom in winter |
Description of seed/fruit |
Cyllindrical achenes, single dry seeds that do not open |
Description of roots |
Creeping, tuberous rootstock |
Variation |
Flower colour and leaf shape variations occur |
Propagation and cultivation |
Stem or leaf cuttings root very easily, although the parts to be planted should be left to dry for a few days; also grown from seed |
Tolerances |
|
Uses |
Attractive dry garden or rockery subject, also in the USA; said to be browsed by animals in the natural state (seneciosis poisoning, Molteno disease status unknown) |
Ecological rarity |
Common |
Pests and diseases |
|
Other |
|
Location |
Grows on rocky outcrops in hills, sandy soil, sunny areas |
Distribution (SA provinces) |
Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Kwazulu-Natal |
Country |
South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Mozambique |