Brunia paleacea, the bergstompie

The bergstompie (little mountain stump in Afrikaans), known scientifically as Brunia paleacea and previously as Nebelia paleacea, is a much-branched shrublet. The specific epithet, paleacea, refers to the scale-like bracts on the flowerheads.

The tiny florets each bears two styles. They are concealed by long, cream bracts protruding hedgehog-like from the flowerheads (Bean and Johns, 2005; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist; www.fernkloof.com).