Vernonia colorata ?
Observed along the forest edge, South Nandi Forest, Kenya. April 2013.
- Disc Flowers: The disc flowers are many and long tubular. The color mostly white diffused with light purple.
- Ray Flowers: No ray flowers, however, the bracts are colored and can look like rays.
- Phyllaries: Several series of phyllaries with the top most rows attenuate into ray-like and paler colored tips.
- Pappus: numerous fine, white bristles plus a low crown of scales atop seeds
- Leaves: The leaves are elyptic to lance-shaped and toothed on the margins. Fairly hirsute below.
- Shubby: Plants had several stems reach about one and a half meters tall.
A colorful scarab beetle was found among the flowers where it was feeding on petals and pollen:
Green Flower Chafer
Asteraceae -- Sunflower Family -- Vernonieae
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