Leucospermum harpagonatum

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Leucospermum harpagonatum
Leucospermum harpagonatum Rebelo 4.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Proteales
Family: Proteaceae
Genus: Leucospermum
Species:
L. harpagonatum
Binomial name
Leucospermum harpagonatum
Rourke [2]

Leucospermum harpagonatum is an evergreen trailing shrublet with leathery, line-shaped, upright leaves and small heads with eight to ten cream, later carmine-colored, strongly incurved flowers assigned to the family Proteaceae. It is reminiscent of the hottentot fig without its flowers. It is called McGregor pincushion in English and flowers from late August till early November. It is critically endangered and occurs only in a very small area in the Western Cape province, South Africa. [2]

Contents

Description

Leucospermum harpagonatum is an evergreen crawling shrublet of about 15 cm (5.9 in) high that can form dense mats of 1–3 m (3.3–9.8 ft) in diameter, with branches originating from a single trunk and radiating out. The flowering branches are reddish, initially finely powdery but soon becoming hairless, 3–5 mm (0.12–0.20 in) in diameter, and bear many stalked flower heads. It has line-shaped upright leaves of 5+1⁄2–11 cm (2.2–4.3 in) long and 2–10 mm (0.079–0.394 in) wide, narrowing into the leaf stalk, with an entire margin and rounded top with a single amber-colored thickening at the very tip. The upper surface of the leathery leafblade is somewhat concave, with slightly incurved margins. [2]

Each flower head mostly consists of eight to ten, sometimes up to twelve 4-merous, bisexual flowers in a single whorl of 2+3⁄4–3 cm (1.1–1.2 in) in diameter on a leaf stalk of 1–2 cm (0.39–0.79 in) long. Each flowerhead is subtended by a prominent involucre consisting of 25–35 overlapping, oval or broadly oval bracts of 6–8 mm (0.24–0.31 in) long and 2–4 mm (0.079–0.157 in) wide, with a tuft of long straight hairs, pointy tips, which are bent somewhat outward. These involucral bracts are set in approximately three whorls. The common base of the flowers of the same head is inverted cone-shaped with a flat top and 3–5 mm (0.12–0.20 in) in diameter. [2]

The bract subtending the individual flower, tightly embraces its base, is broadly oval in shape with a pointy tip, about 5 mm (0.20 in) wide and 6–7 mm (0.24–0.28 in) long, very densely set with long straight silky hairs. The 4-merous perianth is cream to pale carmine in colour, very strongly curved towards the center of the flower head, 1–1+1⁄2 cm (0.39–0.59 in) long. The lower part that remains merged upon opening, called tube, is prominently inflated, 9–10 mm (0.35–0.39 in) long and 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) at its widest furthest from the base, narrow and hairless near the base and densely woolly near the top. The middle part where at least one of the lobes becomes free when the flower opens (called claws), strongly flexes back, is 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long, suddenly narrowed above tube, and densely woolly, particularly at the margins, carmine in colour when fresh. The higher part (called limbs) are lance-shaped with a pointy tip, about 3 mm (0.12 in) long, curved back in the open flower and densely set with long silky hair. Each of the four anthers are about 1 mm (0.039 in) long, merged directly to the center of each of the four limbs are the anthers without a filament.

The style is 2–2+1⁄2 cm (0.79–0.98 in) long, pointing from the centre of the head at its base but strongly curved midlength so that the top points towards the center of the flower head. The style is cream to carmine in colour, tapering towards the tip, and the upper half has barbs pointing to the base. The style ends in a thickened portion, to which the pollen has been transferred in the bud, called the pollen presenter, which is curved inwards and cone-shaped with a pointy tip and a distinct collar at its base. The minute groove that functions as the stigma can be found at the very tip of the pollen presenter. The ovary is about ½ mm (0.02 in) long, covered in very fine straight silky hairs pressed to its surface and gradually merges into the style. It is subtended by four yellow, nectar-producing, line-shaped scales with a pointy tip of about 2 mm (0.079 in) long. The fruit is a cylinder-shaped greyish white nut of about 8 mm (0.31 in) long and 5 mm (0.20 in) in diameter, with a powdery surface. [2]

L. harpagonatum is a close relative of Leucospermum hamatum . Both are low and far spreading shrubs with upright leaves, small heads with only relatively few flowers in a single whorl, very small barbs pointing to the base on the upper outside end of the styles, and the upper end of the perianth tube inflated. L. hapagonatum has line-shaped, entire leaves without teeth, generally eight to ten flowers per head, subtended by an involucre of 25–35 bracts and densely woolly perianth tubes. L. hamatum however has narrowly lance-shaped leaves with mostly three teeth, generally four to seven flowers per head, which is subtended by an involucre of three to four bracts or the involucre may be absent, but with four or five conspicuous bracteoles subtending individual flowers. [2]

Taxonomy

The McGregor pincushion was first discovered for science in 1993 by Tony Rebelo and Fiona Powrie. [3] The following year, South African botanist and Proteaceae specialist John Patrick Rourke described it as Leucospermum harpagonatum. [2]

The species is clearly closely related to L. hamatum, but they occur in separate areas that are approximately 200 km (120 mi) apart. Together they make up the section Hamatum . The inflated perianth tube suggest the species of the section Hamatum might be close relatives of those in the section Tumiditubus . [2]

The species name harpagonatum is compounded from Latin the word harpago ("grappling hook") and the suffix -atum indicating the likeness of something, for the likeness of the flower head with a grappling hook. [2] [4]

Distribution, habitat and ecology

L. harpagonatum is an endemic species that is restricted to a very small area in the northeast of the Riviersonderend Mountains near McGregor in the Western Cape province of South Africa, where it grows in mid-dry fynbos on sandy soil, at an altitude of approximately 800 m (2,600 ft). [2] [5]

The flowers are initially cream-colored, but change to carmine after pollination. The flowers do not smell, but a large amount of nectar gathers in the inflated perianth tube. Rodents chew on the perianth tube, presumably to help themselves to the nectar, and in doing so probably pollinate it. [2] The fruits are collected by native ants for the pale edible elaiosome, which is eaten in the underground nest, where the seeds remain until they germinate after an overhead fire. [5]

Conservation

The McGregor pincushion is considered critically endangered, because there is only one population, consisting of about 200 specimens, that grows in an area of less than 2 km2. The population is declining due to the harvesting of cut flowers, urban development, a too high frequency in which the local fynbos is burnt down and because an alien invasive ant species has forced out the native species, but contrary those native ants, does not bury the seeds, so these are unprotected against the fire. [6]

Related Research Articles

<i>Leucospermum</i> Genus of shrubs in the family Proteaceae

Leucospermum commonly known as pincushions, is a genus of evergreen upright, sometimes creeping shrubs that is assigned to the Proteaceae, with currently 48 known species.

<i>Leucospermum reflexum</i> Shrub in the family Proteaceae from the Western Cape of South Africa

Leucospermum reflexum is a large rounded shrub that is assigned to the family Proteaceae. It grows from a single trunk and its branches are covered in smooth grey bark. It has small elliptic to inverted lance-shaped greyish leaves of only 2–5½ cm (0.8–2.2 in) long. The heads consist of mostly dark orange 4-merous flowers, from which long, identically colored styles emerge, which are directed straight down during flowering. It is called rocket pincushion or skyrocket leucospermum in English and perdekop in Afrikaans. It flowers from the end of August to December. It is an endemic species that can only be found in the southwest of South Africa.

<i>Leucospermum bolusii</i> Shrub in the family Proteaceae from the Western Cape of South Africa

Leucospermum bolusii is a shrub native to South Africa. It grows to 1.5 m in height, and has nearly hairless leaves with a single apical tooth. The leaves are oval shaped and range from 25–45 mm (0.98–1.77 in) in length. The flower heads are about 2 cm in diameter, slightly flattened globe shaped, are set on a stalk of about 1 cm and crowded with up to eight together at the tip of the branches. They each contain 50–100 small, sweetly scented creamy white flowers, that later turn light pink. Flowering takes place between September and December. It is called Gordon's Bay pincushion in English and witluisiesbos in Afrikaans.

<i>Leucospermum praemorsum</i> Shrub in the family Proteaceae from the Western Cape of South Africa

Leucospermum praemorsum is an evergreen shrub or small tree of up to 5 m (16 ft) high. It has hairless oblong to inverted lance-shaped leaves of 7–8 cm long and 1½–2 cm wide, tapering at their base to a stalk of up to 2 cm long, and cut-off at the tip with three to five teeth, and pale carmine, inverted cone-shaped flower heads. From the center of the flowers emerge long initially orange, later deep crimson styles that jointly give the impression of a pincushion. It is called Nardouw fountain-pincushion or Nardouw pincushion in English and Nardouwluisiesbos in Afrikaans. Flower heads can be found off and on throughout the year, particularly in older plants, with a peak between July and December. It is an endemic species that can only be found in part of the Western Cape province of South Africa.

<i>Leucospermum hamatum</i> Prostrate shrublet in the family Proteaceae from the Western Cape of South Africa

Leucospermum hamatum is a mat-forming, evergreen shrublet of only about 10 cm (3.9 in) high, from the Proteaceae. It is usually 1–3 m (3.3–9.8 ft) in diameter, has long trailing stems and upright, inverted lance-shaped, entire leaves but for one to five shallow reddish bony teeth near the tip. Its small flower heads of 1½–2 cm (0.6–0.8 in) in diameter, consist of four to seven drab carmine-colored flowers that strongly curve back to the centre of the head. It mainly flowers from July till November and is pollinated by mice. It has been given the common name Ruitersbos pincushion.

<i>Leucospermum glabrum</i> Shrub in the family Proteaceae from the south coast of South Africa

Leucospermum glabrum is an evergreen, rounded, upright shrub of up to 2½ m (8 ft) high, that is assigned to the family Proteaceae. It has broad inverted egg-shaped leaves with seven to fourteen teeth near their tips, and oval flower heads of about 8 cm (3.2 in) in diameter, with hairy, orange and carmine-coloured flowers from which long styles with a thickened end emerge, giving the flowerhead as a whole the appearance of a pincushion. It flowers between August and October. Its common name is Outeniqua pincushion in English and Outeniekwa-kreupelhout in Afrikaans. It naturally occurs in a limited area on the south coast of South Africa.

<i>Leucospermum praecox</i> Shrub in the family Proteaceae from the Western Cape of South Africa

Leucospermum praecox is an evergreen, rounded, upright shrub of up to 3 m (9 ft) high, and 4 m (12 ft) in diameter that is assigned to the family Proteaceae. It has hairless, inverted egg-shaped to broadly wedge-shaped leaves of about 5 cm (2 in) long with six to eleven teeth near the tip, globe-shaped flower head with initially yellow flowers, later orange or scarlet, with styles sticking far out, giving the head the appearance of a pincushion. It is called Mossel Bay pincushion or large-tufted pincushion in English. It flowers between April and September. It is an endemic species that is restricted to the very south of the Western Cape province of South Africa.

<i>Leucospermum truncatulum</i> Shrub in the family Proteaceae from the Western Cape of South Africa

Leucospermum truncatulum is a slender, upright, evergreen, hardly branching shrub of up to 2 m (6 ft) high, with felty inverted egg-shaped to oval, leaves with entire margins of 1–2½ cm (0.4–1.0 in) long and ½–1 cm (0.2–0.4 in) wide. It has small globe-shaped, at first yellow, later pinkish flower heads of 1½–2 cm (0.6-0.8 in) in diameter, without a stalk, usually crowded with two to eight together near the end of the stems. It is known as oval-leaf pincushion in English, and patrysbos or kleinkopspeldekussing in Afrikaans. It is an endemic species of the south of the Western Cape province of South Africa, and flowers between August and December.

<i>Leucospermum heterophyllum</i> Shrub in the family Proteaceae from the Western Cape of South Africa

Leucospermum heterophyllum is a low, trailing evergreen shrublet of up to 15 cm (6 in) high, and up to several m in diameter, which is assigned to the family Proteaceae. It has narrow leaves of about 2½ cm (1 in) long and ½ cm (0.2 in) wide, mostly with three teeth near its tip. It has small, globe-shaped, whitish flower heads. It is called trident pincushion in English and rankluisie in Afrikaans. It naturally occurs in the Western Cape province of South Africa. The plant flowers between August and January.

<i>Leucospermum innovans</i> Shrub in the family Proteaceae from the Eastern Cape and Kwazulu-Natal in South Africa

Leucospermum innovans is an upright evergreen shrub with many pustules growing on the lower branches, wedge-shaped leaves, and oval, flower heads that are yellow on the outside, but with scarlet stripes on the inside of the perianth claws, with long styles sticking far beyond the perianths, jointly giving the impression of a pincushion. It is called Pondoland pincushion or Transkei pincushion in English. Flowers occur on and off between July and December, but flowering peaks in September and October.

<i>Leucospermum pluridens</i> Shrub in the family Proteaceae from southern South Africa

Leucospermum pluridens is a large upright evergreen shrub of up to 3 m (9.8 ft) high assigned to the family Proteaceae. It has leathery, oblong to wedge-shaped leaves of about 7½ cm long and 2½ cm wide, deeply incised near the tip with seven to ten teeth. It has initially yellow, later carmine coloured flower heads. The 2 cm long bracts have slender, recurved tips. From the center of the perianth emerge long styles that jointly give the impression of a pincushion. It is called Robinson pincushion in English and Robinson-kreupelhout in Afrikaans. Flowers can be found between September and December. It naturally occurs in the south of South Africa.

<i>Leucospermum vestitum</i> Species of shrub in the family Proteaceae from the Western Cape of South Africa

Leucospermum vestitum is an evergreen, upright to more or less spreading shrub of up to 2½ m (9 ft) high and wide from the family Proteaceae. It has greyish, seated, oblong, 2–3 inch long leaves with two to four teeth near the tip and large, showy two-toned flower heads that are bright orange at first by and age to brilliant crimson. From the center of the perianth emerge long styles, higher up bending towards the center of the head, that jointly give the impression of a pincushion. It is called silky-haired pincushion in English and bergluisie in Afrikaans. It can be found in the Western Cape province of South Africa, and flowers from July until January, peaking October and November.

<i>Leucospermum wittebergense</i> Species of shrub in the family Proteaceae from the Western Cape province of South Africa

Leucospermum wittebergense is an evergreen, upright to more or less spreading shrub of ½–1½ m (1⅔–5 ft) high and wide from the family Proteaceae. It has globe-shaped flower heads of about 2 cm (0.8 in) in diameter with initially whitish, later pinkish flowers. It has crowded, overlapping, inverted lance-shaped leaves, set at an upward angle and covered in short, dense grey-silvery shaggy hairs. From the center of the perianth emerge almost straight styles that jointly give the impression of a pincushion. It is called Swartberg pincushion in English. The species naturally occurs in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It can be found flowering between August and January.

Leucospermum fulgens is an evergreen, upright shrub of up to 3 m (10 ft) high, from the family Proteaceae. It has hairless and leathery inverted lance-shaped to oblong leaves tipped with mostly three teeth and globe- to egg-shaped flowerheads of 6–8 cm in diameter, that consist of pink to orange, later crimson flowers. From the center of the flowers emerge almost straight styles that jointly give the impression of a pincushion. It is called Potberg pincushion in English. New pink to orange flower heads occur between August and November, but older, crimson heads may persist until January. It is a critically endangered species, only known from one location in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

Leucospermum profugum, the Piketberg pincushion, is a species of evergreen shrub in the family Proteaceae. It is an endangered species, only known from three close locations in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It has hairless and leathery inverted lance-shaped to oblong leaves tipped with mostly three or four teeth and flattened egg-shaped flowerheads of 9–12 cm (3.5–4.7 in) in diameter, that consist of initially yellowish-orange flowers that later change to salmon pink. From the center of the flowers emerge almost straight styles that jointly give the impression of a pincushion. Flower heads can be found between late September and December.

<i>Leucospermum pedunculatum</i> Shrub in the family Proteaceae from the Western Cape of South Africa

Leucospermum pedunculatum is an evergreen, low shrub of 15–30 cm (5.9–11.8 in) high spreading from a single stern upright stem, from the family Proteaceae. The powdered or hairless line-shaped to somewhat sickle-shaped leaves are 3–6 cm (1.2–2.4 in) long and 2–5 mm (0.08–0.20 in) wide. The stalked, individually set flower heads are globe-shaped, 2½−3 cm in diameter consist of initially white to pale cream flowers that eventually turn carmine. From the center of the flowers emerge straight styles that jointly give the impression of a pincushion. It is called white-trailing pincushion in English. It flowers from August to January, peaking in September. It is an endemic species that is restricted to a narrow strip on the south coast of the Western Cape province of South Africa.

<i>Leucospermum utriculosum</i> Species of shrub in the family Proteaceae from the Western Cape province of South Africa

Leucospermum utriculosum is a lax, evergreen, upright and arching shrub of 1–2 m high, from the family Proteaceae. It has hairless inverted lance-shaped to oblong leaves tipped with three to five teeth and globe-shaped to flattened light yellow to coppery flowerheads of 5–8 cm (2.0–3.2 in) in diameter. From the center of the flowers emerge almost straight styles that jointly give the impression of a pincushion. It is called Breede River pincushion in English. Although flower heads may occur on and off between May and March, the peak season is from September to November. It is known from the Western Cape province of South Africa.

<i>Leucospermum arenarium</i> Species of srub in the family Proteaceae from the Western Cape province of South Africa

Leucospermum arenarium is a lax, evergreen shrub, with arching and drooping branches, that has been assigned to the family Proteaceae. It has loosely spaced, upright, greyish, narrowly egg-shaped to line-shaped leaves, mostly without teeth and flattened globe-shaped flower heads of 5–7 cm across, consisting of mostly creamy, seldom yellow flowers, that curve in the bud to the center of the head. From the center of the flowers emerge curved styles that jointly give the impression of a pincushion. The common name in English is Redelinghuys pincushion. It only occurs in a very small area in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It flowers between July and October. Unlike in related species the flowers are pollinated by hairy-footed gerbils and striped field mice.

<i>Leucospermum rodolentum</i> The sandveld pincushion is a shrub in the family Proteaceae from the Western Cape of South Africa

Leucospermum rodolentum is an upright, evergreen shrub of up to 3.0 m high, from the family Proteaceae. It has felty grey, elliptic to wedge-shaped leaves of 4–6½ cm (1.8–2.6 in) long and ¾–1½ cm wide, and very sweetly scented, globe-shaped, 3–3½ cm (1.2–1.4 in) wide, bright yellow flower heads, that are seated or on a very short stalk of ½ cm long, grouped with two to four together. Its common names include is sandveld pincushion in English and sandluisie or sandveldluisiesbos in Afrikaans. The plants are in bloom between August and November. It is an endemic species that only grows in a small area of the Western Cape province of South-Africa.

<i>Leucospermum winteri</i> Shrub in the family Proteaceae from the Western Cape of South Africa

Leucospermum winteri is an evergreen, rounded shrub up to 1.3 m (4.3 ft) tall in the family Proteaceae. Its slightly smelling flower heads can be found between July and December, and are pollinated by insects such as flies and bees. About two months after flowering the fruits are ripe and fall to the ground. Here, these are gathered by native ants that carry them to their underground nests, where the seeds remain safe until overhead fire and removal of the biomass trigger gemination. The plants of this species do not survive the fire that occurs naturally in its fynbos habitat. This species is an endemic of the Langkloof between the Gourits River Valley and Garcia's Pass in the Langeberg, where it occurs on the ridges at 1,100–1,300 m (3,600–4,300 ft) elevation. Although only a few hundred plants are known, the population is stable, so the species is only regarded near threatened. It is called Riversdale pincushion in English.

References

  1. ↑ Rebelo, A.G.; Raimondo, D.; von Staden, L.; Helme, N.A. (2020). "Leucospermum harpagonatum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020: e.T113172539A185550682. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T113172539A185550682.en . Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Rourke, John Patrick (1994). "A new Species of Leucospermum from the southwestern Cape". Bothalia. 24 (2): 167–170. doi: 10.4102/abc.v24i1.743 .
  3. ↑ Rebelo, A G (28 July 2020), Curriculum Vitae: A G Rebelo
  4. ↑ "harpago". Wordhippo.
  5. 1 2 "Hook pincushions". Protea Atlas Project.
  6. ↑ "McGregor Pincushion". SANBI Threatened Species Program.
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