Rare in its home range along South African coastlines, and of course enthusiastically invasive in California, Southern Australia and New Zealand.

Yet again, it was introduced to those areas as a garden ornamental and coastal stabilising plant, and lacking any of its native controls forms large, dense monocultures that smother and displace native species through shading and competition for resources. Highly adaptable, thriving in harsh coastal conditions with hot dry summers, mobile sands, strong winds, salt spray and low winter rainfall. Although around here in Perth, the winters only count as wet in comparison to the bone-dry scorching summers. Like other Arctotis species, the flowers only open during the day.

A cheesewood found in coastal communities along the south half of the western coastline of Australia. It grows in grey soils, clayey sand, calcrete, sandstone, granite, laterite, and limestone, which is pretty impressive for a plant that otherwise demands ocean views.

Despite their tempting appearence, the fruit is a woody capsule containing dark red, sticky, inedible seeds.

Type genus of the family, which is large, widespread, and usually black or yellow.

Predaciously patroling the Pigface at Point Peron.

Aeolothrips prey on arthropods, including other thrips, but supplement their diet with plant protein. Adults and larvae are most often found on flowers, but some hunt ground mites.