LAMIACEAE

Syncolostemon elliottii

Elliot's Sagebush

Wildflowers

Local Context

Could be considered a Raptor's View special. It's common in suitable habitat from Makalali to the west to Timbavati in the East, but much more sparsely distributed in the rest of its range in northern South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe.

Identification

Growth: Soft, branched shrub or small bush (0.35–0.6 m tall) that is woody at the base.
Flowers: White to pale mauve, about 1.3 cm long, arranged in small clusters of 2–6; a key feature is the dense tuft of broad, mauve-purple leafy bracts at the tip of the flower spike.
Leaves: Small, lance-shaped to egg-shaped (1.5–2.5 cm long), densely covered in grey velvety hairs on both surfaces.
Texture: The plant has a grey, velvety appearance due to the dense hairs; the colorful purple bracts at the top persist on the plant.

Did You Know?

From a distance, this plant seems to have pink flowers, but closer inspection reveals a clever botanical ruse: the most prominent splashes of colour are actually large, sterile pink bracts clustered at the branch tips. These bracts serve as a visual beacon for pollinators, while the true (white) flowers are significantly more delicate.

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