About Arctotis fastuosa Jacq.
Arctotis fastuosa, commonly known as Monarch-of-the-veld, is an African plant species in the Asteraceae family. It is native to Namibia and South Africa, and has become naturalized along roadsides and in vacant urban lots in southern California. This species is cultivated as an ornamental plant valued for its showy flowers. It is an annual herb that typically grows to around 35 centimeters tall, though it can sometimes reach nearly 90 centimeters (36 inches) in height. The plant has a hairy texture; when young, its hairs are long and webby. Its leaves grow in basal rosettes and are alternately arranged along the stem. Leaves can reach several centimeters in length, and all but the uppermost leaves are divided into multiple lobes. The leaves are attached to the plant via flat petioles with wide bases. The inflorescence is a solitary flower head that can grow large and showy, reaching up to 10 centimeters across. Cultivars of this species have been developed to produce a range of flower colors. The ray florets may be orange or white, with purple, yellow, or orange bases, while the disc florets at the center of the flower head may be brown, purple, or black.
