Crops Rain daisy (Dimorphotheca pluvialis)

Young plant

The species is an annual, with narrow, dark green, leathery leaves. As the plants develop they branch profusely; since the stems are not strong, branches are usually supported on other plants or the ground surface, so plant height usually does not exceed about 30 cm. The white-petalled, dark-centred flowers are borne at the ends of the branches, flowering often continuing for 3 months or more.

Ripening seedhead

The seeds are exposed, becoming creamy-brown when ripe, after which they fall to the ground.

Winged seeds

The seed are of two types, rod-like and winged, the latter usually being in the majority and also containing a higher proportion of oil. Little is yet known of the agronomic requirements of the crop; light soils and open sunny situations are probably preferable. Sowings may be best made during April: a high population density is needed, possibly of the order of 100 plants per square metre in narrow rows, since the crop canopy is very open during the early stages of growth, permitting weeds to grow freely. There is as yet no information on possible herbicides or nutritional needs. Flowering is likely to commence during late June; timing of harvest is difficult because of the asynchronous nature of flowering and therefore of seed maturation. Chemical desiccation at an early stage of maturity, followed by combining, has been proposed as the best method of harvesting, seed yield potential being assessed at some 1.5 t per ha.