Protea grandiceps

Protea grandiceps, commonly known as rooisuikerbos, suikerbos or red sugarbush,[1] is a flowering shrub that belongs to the Protea genus and is native to parts south western parts of South Africa.[2] The shrub was listed as an+ near threatened species in 2006 according to the South African National Biodiversity Institute.[3]

Protea grandiceps
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Proteales
Family: Proteaceae
Genus: Protea
Species:
P. grandiceps
Binomial name
Protea grandiceps

Description

The shrub is round and grows 2 m (6 ft 7 in) high and blooms from September to January.[1] Fire destroys the plant but the seeds survive. The seed is stored in a cap and spread by the wind. The plant is unisexual. Pollination occurs through the action of birds. The tree's national number is 89.2.[4][5][3]

Taxonomy

The species was first formally described by the botanist Leopold Trattinnick, the specific epithet means large head and is derived from the Latin words grandis meaning great or large and ceps meaning head in reference to the flower-heads.[4]

Distribution

The plant is endemic to South Africa and is found in the Cape Peninsula, Hottentots-Holland Mountains, Riviersonderend Mountains, Langeberg, Outeniqua Mountains, Winterhoek Mountains and Kamanassie Mountains[4] where it is commonly situated on stony crevices on dry upper mountain slopes at altitudes of 1,200 to 1,700 m (3,900 to 5,600 ft). It is spread over a total area of around 652 km2 (252 sq mi) composed of fragmented populations.[3]

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References
  1. "Bearded Sugarbushes - Proteas". The Protea Atlas Project. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  2. "National List of Indigenous Trees". Treetags. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  3. "Red Sugarbush". Red List of South African Plants. South African National Biodiversity Institute. 2012. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  4. "Protea grandiceps Tratt". PlantZAfrica. South African National Biodiversity Institute. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  5. "Protea grandiceps (Red sugarbush)". biodiversity explorer. Iziko Museums of Aouth Africa. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
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