Treasure Flower

Overview

Originated from the grassy slopes and rocky cliffs of the Drakensberg mountains in South Africa. Gazania linearis, commonly called the "treasure flower". This plant produces large, daisy-like composite flowers in brilliant shades of yellow and orange. They are often grown as a drought-resistant ground cover, as an ornamental and have been reported in traditional medicine.

Vernacular Names

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Agroecology

Gazania linearis grows well in full sun and well-draining soil, spacing several plants 12 to 18 inches (30-45 cm) apart to form a ground cover mat. These flowers can tolerate almost any type of alkaline, acidic, loam, loamy and sandy soil as long as the soil is well draining, although they prefer well-drained loam.

Morphology

• Leaves - varies from narrow, intact ellipses to deep lobes, up to 4 inches (10 cm) long, up to 0.8 inches (2 cm) wide, dark green on top and white hairy on bottom.
• Flowers - produces large, daisy-like, bright yellow and orange flower heads up to 3 inches (8 cm) in diameter.
• Fruits - small achenes, covered with very long hairs.

Cultivation

This plant is propagated by seeds, stem cuttings or division of clumps.

Chemical Constituents

Lupeol-3-O-stearate, costunolide, 11,13-dihydro-costunolide, santamarine, in addition to lupeol, b-amyrin, and b-sitosterol-3-O-b-D-glucopyranoside.

Traditional Medicinal Uses

• Prevents miscarriage, toothache, and as a laxative.