About Athanasia quinquedentata Thunb.
Athanasia quinquedentata Thunb. is a densely leafed shrub that grows up to 60 cm (2.0 ft) tall. Its leaves are alternately arranged, and range in shape from round to oblong. Leaf margins typically have 3 to 5 convex teeth, though rarely they may have straight edges. This species produces yellow flowers, with 10 to 40 florets growing from a ringed base. Its discoid flower heads are mostly borne in terminal corymbs, and have a ringed base covered in dense stalked glands. Flowers appear between October and January. This species is endemic to South Africa, where it grows on limestone and sandstone hills between Stanford and Gqeberha. Two subspecies are recognized, separated by their distribution. Athanasia quinquedentata subsp. rigens Källersjö is found only on a limestone ridge running parallel to Stilbaai, in the Western Cape of South Africa. It prefers alkaline sands of coastal lowland regions, but may also occur on ecotones between acidic and alkaline areas. It has an area of occurrence of 1,250 km2 (480 sq mi) and is recorded from ten localities. Athanasia quinquedentata subsp. quinquedentata is the more widespread of the two subspecies, and is found in the Eastern Cape of South Africa.
