This flowerhead of Kleinia fulgens here shows open five-lobed florets around the margin of the disc flower, while the buds in the centre are still closed. The yellow anthers are well exserted. Older florets will later also show the exserted red styles of the florets, each with two elaborately recurving stigma lobes. The green involucre with characteristic vertical furrows can be seen below the florets.

The scarlet colour contrast against the silvery grey of foliage and stems enhances the visual effect of these winter flowers. The leaves are succulent, obovate in shape, sometimes with serrated margins, otherwise tapering to one sharp tip. The stem becomes swollen like a caudex in mature plants.

The plants originate from KwaZulu-Natal where they grow in habitat among taller plants in sandy soil and semi-shade (Capon, 2005; www.succulents.us).