Osteospermum

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". 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. ==Taxonomy==

The genus Osteospermum was named by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. The genus name is derived from Ancient Greek ὀστέον (ostéon), meaning "bone", and σπέρμα (spérma), meaning "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. ==Species==

74 species are accepted: • Osteospermum acanthospermum • Osteospermum aciphyllum • Osteospermum afromontanum • Osteospermum amplectens • Osteospermum angolense • Osteospermum apterum • Osteospermum armatum • Osteospermum asperulum • Osteospermum attenuatum • Osteospermum auriculatum • Osteospermum australe • Osteospermum bidens • Osteospermum bolusii • Osteospermum breviradiatum — Lemoenboegoe • Osteospermum burttianum • Osteospermum calcicola • Osteospermum calendulaceum — Stinking Roger • Osteospermum ciliatum • Osteospermum connatum • Osteospermum corymbosum • Osteospermum crassifolium • Osteospermum dentatum • Osteospermum elsieae • Osteospermum grandidentatum — Yellow trailing daisy • Osteospermum grandiflorum • Osteospermum hafstroemii • Osteospermum herbaceum • Osteospermum hirsutum • Osteospermum hispidum • Osteospermum hyoseroides • Osteospermum ilicifolium • Osteospermum imbricatum • Osteospermum incanum • Osteospermum junceum • Osteospermum karrooicum • Osteospermum lanceolatum • Osteospermum leptolobum • Osteospermum microcarpum • Osteospermum microphyllum • Osteospermum moniliferum • Osteospermum monocephalum • Osteospermum monstrosum • Osteospermum montanum • Osteospermum muricatum • Osteospermum namibense • Osteospermum nervosum • Osteospermum nordenstamii • Osteospermum norlindhianum • Osteospermum nyikense • Osteospermum oppositifolium • Osteospermum pinnatilobatum • Osteospermum pinnatum • Osteospermum polycephalum • Osteospermum polygaloides • Osteospermum potbergense • Osteospermum pterigoideum • Osteospermum pyrifolium • Osteospermum rigidum • Osteospermum rosulatum • Osteospermum rotundifolium • Osteospermum sanctae-helenae • Osteospermum scariosum • Osteospermum sinuatum • Osteospermum spathulatum • Osteospermum spinescens • Osteospermum spinigerum • Osteospermum spinosum • Osteospermum striatum • Osteospermum subulatum • Osteospermum thodei • Osteospermum tomentosum • Osteospermum triquetrum • Osteospermum vaillantii • Osteospermum volkensii Formerly placed here • Dimorphotheca barberae — synonym Osteospermum barberae ) • Dimorphotheca ecklonis — Cape marguerite, blue-and-white daisybush (synonym Osteospermum ecklonis ) • Dimorphotheca fruticosa — Trailing African daisy, shrubby daisybush (synonym Osteospermum fruticosum ) • Dimorphotheca jucunda — South African daisy (synonym Osteospermum jucundum ) ==Distribution==

There are about 70 species native to southern and eastern Africa and the Arabian peninsula. ==Cultivation==

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. Cultivars 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 have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit): • 'Acapulco' • 'African Queen' • 'Apricot' • 'Biera' • 'Big Pink' • 'Blackthorn Seedling' • 'Bodegas Pink' • 'Buttermilk' • 'Chris Brickell' • 'Duet' • 'Giles Gilbey' • 'Hopleys' • 'Ice White' • 'Langtrees • 'Lady Leitrim' • 'Lilac Spoon' • 'Marbella' • 'Merriments Joy' • 'Nairobi Purple' • O. jucundum • 'Passion Mix' • 'Pink' • 'Pink Beauty' • 'Pink Whirls' • 'Silver Sparkler' • 'Soprano' • 'Starshine' • 'Springstar Gemma' • 'Sunkist' • 'Weetwood' • 'White Pim' • 'White Spoon' • 'White Whirls' • 'Whirlygig' ==Image gallery==

Image:Osteospermum tomentosum - Bonnievale renosterveld 2.jpg|Osteospermum tomentosum Image:Purple osteospermum.JPG|'Passion Mix' Image:P1010020-a.jpg|'Lemon Symphony' (an annual cultivar) Image:Sunadora_marbella2.jpg|Osteospermum 'Sunadora Hotspots Marbella', a modern hybrid Image:Sunadora_acapulco.jpg|Osteospermum 'Sunadora Hotspots Acapulco', another modern hybrid Image:Osteospermum Flower Power Spider Purple 2134px.jpg|An osteospermum displayed as part of the 2008 Penn State horticultural trials Image:African daisy (Osteospermum sp. 'Pink Whirls').jpg|Osteospermum 'Pink Whirls' Image:Osteospermum.Pink Whirls04.jpg|'Pink Whirls' close-up File:Osteospermum in palestine 2.jpg File:Osteospermum in palestine.jpg File:Pink flower 095549.jpg File:Osteospermum flower 2.jpg|Osteospermum Cape Daisy 'Pink bicolor' File:Osteospermum flower.jpg|Osteospermum Sunset shades ==References==