Haplocarpha
(from haploos, single, and karphe, chaff; in allusion to the one-rowed, chaffy pappus). ORD. Compositae. A genus comprising four species of greenhouse or half-hardy, almost stemless, perennial herbs, natives of South Africa, one extending into tropical regions. Flower-heads yellow, rather large, solitary, heterogamous, radiate; involucre hemispherical, the bracts in many series; receptacle flat or convex, naked or slightly fimbrilliferous; ray florets ligulate, spreading, entire or minutely three-toothed; achenes turbinate. Leaves radical, entire or toothed, cano-tomentose or woolly beneath. H. Leichtlinii, the only species in cultivation, is a showy, free-flowering plant, requiring protection during the winter. It thrives in any fairly good soil. From the crown are produced numerous short shoots, which all flower; and by making cuttings of these the plant may be propagated. H. Leichtlinii (Leichtlin's). fl.-heads 2in. to 2 1/2in. in diameter; involucral scales free, the outer ones cobwebby-tomentose, the inner ones tipped dull purple; ray florets stained purple beneath, the disk of a deeper yellow; scape 1ft. long. l. 6in. to 12in. long, 2in. to 2 1/2in. broad, lyrate-pinnatisect. 1883. SYN. Gorteria acaulis (of gardens).