Today I was lucky to discover a plant I’ve been keeping an eye out for years: a mountain dahlia and it lives up to it’s description ‘splendens’. It’s a showy flower, pollinated by sunbirds especially the little Orange breasted. Found on a mountain slope in the Silvermine reserve, it grows in an area which was ravaged by fire in March. It’s interesting to see that there are young plants around the more mature shrubs.
The striking colours and size make a gorgeous ‘ornate’ species.
Nature on the Edge 
Now that’s an ornate item I could love! How great that it came back after the fire. Lovely choice Liz
Thanks Tina. It’s such a joy to be out in the veld, feel like an explorer finding new plant species 🙂
Yes it’s really fancy. Great for the challenge, Liz. 🙂
Thanks Sylvia – I’ve always marvelled at the size of cultivated dahlias, and this wild species is quite spectacular.
Lovely detail and color.
Isn’t it gorgeous! I love how it has a variety of tones from yellow through to red. Thanks for visiting.
So pretty, rising from the ashes! A wonderful metaphor.
Yes!! This is one glorious raising up from the ashes :). The veld blooms in radiance:)
Stunning, it looks like silk.
Yes! It has a wonderful texture, picks up the light and shows off it’s varying tones very much like the sheen of silk 🙂
Liz, an ornate mountain dahlia, attracting sunbirds and you ❤ how lovely is that?
Love that I’m up there with the sunbirds :). Thanks Jane.
Thanks for the introduction to this wildflower. I found out more about it at:
http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantklm/lipariasplend.htm
Am an avid fan of Kirstenbosch gardens, but hadn’t ever come across their webpage which you reference. Thank you, Steve. Was happy to read up and discover further information – the myrmecochory link with the seed dispersal and to learn that it’s a resprouter after fire.
You’re welcome. I didn’t know the term myrmecochory (though I recognized myrmeco- as the Greek word for ant) but I was aware of the process it represents.
Lovely! 🙂
Gorgeous bloom and together with a sunbird must make a spectacular sight.