About Arctotis hirsuta (Harv.) Beauverd
Arctotis hirsuta, commonly known as Namaqua marigold and gousblom, is a species of flowering plant endemic to South Africa. It grows naturally in the Northern Cape and Western Cape provinces. It is most often found on sandy coastal slopes and flats, ranging from Elandsbaai to the Agulhas Plain. During the local spring flower season, this species can bloom in large populations. It is an annual plant that can grow up to 450 millimeters tall. It has a somewhat fleshy texture and a branched stem. Its leaves are slightly hairy, which gives the species its specific epithet hirsuta. The leaves can grow up to 200 millimeters long. Flowers may be orange, yellow, or cream-colored, and the flower heads measure approximately 40 millimeters in diameter.
