Cleretum bellidiforme

Cleretum bellidiforme is a winter growing annual with green or slightly maroon leaves. Leaves are flat and rounded at the tip, with notably bladder shaped cells on the leaf surface that give the leaves a reflective quality. These cells are used to store water, which classifies the plant as a succulent. The plant usually forms a stout groundcover, but its flowers may reach up to 25 cm (10 in). Flowers are solitary and brightly colored with many narrow petals. The flowers open in bright sunlight, and are up to 30 millimetres (1.2 in) in diameter. Stamens are maroon with purple or yellow anthers, and are found in the center of the flower in rows. The ovary is inferior to the stamens. Fruits are a five compartmented capsule that expands in wet weather, revealing the very small, smooth, light brown seeds.[6]

The many colors of Livingstone daisy

The species was first described by Nicolaas Laurens Burman in 1768, as Mesembryanthemum bellidiforme.[7][8] It was later transferred from Mesembryanthemum to Dorotheanthus and then to Cleretum. It has been synonymized with five species initially described in Mesembryanthemum (e.g. Mesembryanthemum criniflorum) and nine originally described in Dorotheanthus (e.g. Dorotheanthus ulularis).[1]

Dorotheanthus was named by Gustuv Schwanthes after his mother, combining her name with anthus, Greek for flower.[9]

C. belliforme is restricted to the winter rainfall regions of western South Africa,[9] where it chiefly grows in the western half Western Cape. In the Northern Cape it is restricted to the desert lands bordering Western Cape northwest of the Cederberg, and inland from the southern stretch of the Atlantic coast. The distribution is patchy, not continuous.[10]

It is very common in Bokbaai where it is found flowering in great numbers in spring.[9]

It is adapted to disturbed sand, such as found on riverbanks or desert dunes; the small flat seeds easily slip deeper in loose sand out of the summer sun. It is also found on clay slopes, limestone ridges and granite outcrops. It is very short-lived, the seeds germinating with the first autumn rains, and growing and flowering from late winter to spring (July to October).[6][9] It grows in fynbos and succulent karoo. It sometimes grows together with low-growing Oxalis and Senecio. It is sometimes found as a solitary plant, in other areas in large colonies.[6]

This is a well-known and popular garden annual in many areas around the world, available with flowers in numerous colours. It is found listed under a number of synonyms in seed catalogues. Seeds can be sown in a cold frame. Former subspecies C. hestermalense is difficult to germinate, these germinate best when kept hot and dry over the summer.[9]

C. bellidiforme was named the Livingstone daisy by seed-seller Samuel Ryder in 1928, after explorer David Livingstone.[13]

In South Africa it is usually known as Livingstone daisy when sold in the horticultural trade. Common vernacular names for the wild plants are bokbaaivygie in Afrikaans, or Bok Bay vygie or Buckbay-vygie. Less common are sandvygie, skilpadkos (turtle food) or ysplant (ice plant).[9]

According to the Red List of South African plants its status is Least Concern (LC) as of 2017.[6]