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Osteospermum sp. (most likely O. ecklonis)
A native to South Africa, the African Daisy (Osteospermum species) is an invasive species in Australia, but is a very common garden plant. It is a tough, drought-tolerant plant and invades a wide range of habitats, particularly beaches, dunes, and dry forest areas. It is very widespread around many coastal communities, particularly in NSW, and can rapidly invade adjacent bushland areas where it can form a dense understorey excluding native species.
Dunes at North Avoca Beach on the NSW Central Coast. This species is widespread along the NSW coastline.
Whether by erroneous planting or natural seeding, and despite this species being an invasive import, it does a wonderful job at sand stabilizing on beachfront dunes. The plants in this spotting proved their worth only a few months ago when the entire eastern coastline of Australia was smashed by massive storms and huge seas. Other parts of the beachfront were undermined, but the dunes in this area remained intact.
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