Protea foliosa

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Protea foliosa
Protea foliosa 15387225.jpg
Protea foliosa habitat view in the east of the Suurberg range
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Proteales
Family: Proteaceae
Genus: Protea
Species:
P. foliosa
Binomial name
Protea foliosa
Synonyms [4] [5]
  • Protea magnoliifolia H.Buek in Drège, nom. nud.
  • Protea caulescens E.Mey. ex Meisn. in DC.: 244 (1856), nom. nud.
  • Protea tenax var. latifoliaMeisn. in DC.: 244 (1856)

Protea foliosa, also known as the leafy sugarbush, [4] [6] [7] is a flowering plant of the genus Protea in the family Proteaceae [4] [6] which is endemic to the Cape Region of South Africa. [4] [2] In the Afrikaans language it is known as ruie-suikerbos.[ citation needed ]

Contents

Taxonomy

This species appears to be one of the latest to be described as new to science, this by the South African botanist John Patrick Rourke in 1975, however, the species had been known since the early 19th century. [3] [8] Rourke had collected this species in 1974 in the Van Stadensberg Forest Reserve between the villages of Loerie and Otterford, to the west of the city of Port Elizabeth (collector #1410), [9] but it was first discovered by the British plant collector William Burchell in 1813 in the Swartwatersberge (berge = 'mountains') near the village of Riebeek East, and collected by him again the following year on the Van Stadensberg (berg = 'mountain'). [5] The German botanical explorer Johann Franz Drège collected the species a number of times in the early 1830s. In his 1843 work Zwei pflanzengeographische Documente Drège used two names to classify these specimens, Protea tenax (this incorrectly, Meissner calls it "var. β") and P. magnoliifolia, but this work is only an annotated travel itinerary, and does not include formal species descriptions for any of the new taxa mentioned. [10] Another German botanical explorer, Karl Zeyher, also collected this species around the same time. His specimens were named P. caulescens by Ernst Meyer, apparently on the exsiccata specimen sheets only, and Meyer also did not publish a formal description, resulting in another 'naked' name. These names are thus what is known as nomina nuda . In the botanical book series, the Prodromus , the Swiss taxonomist Carl Meissner subsequently classified Zeyher and Drège's specimens as belonging to his taxon P. tenax var. latifolia in 1856, synonymising the nomina nuda with the new variety. Meissner ascribes the name in Drège's 1843 work to Heinrich Wilhelm Buek  [ de ], to whom the name is attributed in the index at the back of the book. [11]

P. tenax is a prostrate species which occurs in the mountain ranges much further to the west. [5]

In 1912 in the Flora Capensis Otto Stapf and Edwin Percy Phillips confused matters further. They maintain the synonymy of Meissner, but strangely classify all of Drège's specimens as P. tenax var. tenax, and oddly enough classify specimens from other collectors who went to the exact same locations as var. latifolia. They changed the spelling of P. magnoliifolia to magnoliaefolia. [12]

Types

Drège collected his specimens at four locations: what he called P. tenax at moderate elevations on the northern flanks of the Zuurberge and in grassland at low elevations between the villages of Omsamculo and Omtendo (now possibly in the area of Makhanda), and what he called P. magnoliifolia on the eastern flank of the Van Stadensberg (as Vanstaadesberg") at reasonably low elevations, and the nearby Galgebosch, a forest at low altitudes. [10]

In the preparatory work for the Flora Capensis, Stapf designated a specimen of Drège stored at the Swedish Museum of Natural History, collected either on the Van Stadensberg itself or in the Galgebosch, and originally identified as P. magnoliifolia, as the holotype of P. tenax var. latifolia. [13] [14] At the same time, his partner in writing Phillips determined the P. magnoliifolia specimen of the same series at Kew to be the nominate P. tenax of Robert Brown. This identification was reiterated by the South African botanist Hedley Brian Rycroft in 1960, although he originally wrote the added "var. latifolia" to that, before crossing that part out. [14]

An isotype of Rourke's 1974 collection is kept at the herbarium at Kew. [9]

Higher classification

In 1995 Tony Rebelo classified P. foliosa in his section Crinitae (what he calls the "eastern ground sugarbushes"). [5]

Description

Habitus

It is a rounded shrub reaching up to 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) tall, [7] although the plants growing around Makhanda only become shorter than 1 metre (3.3 ft) in height at maximum, [5] and plants are usually 45–75 centimetres (18–30 in). [12] [15] The shrub consists of multiple stems arising from an underground bole or persistent rootstock. [5] [9] These stems are thick (60–80mm in diameter), glabrous and rarely branch. [5] Being able to survive wildfires, [4] [5] it is a long-lived species. [4] The stems are erect, [5] but the weight of the inflorescences bend them closer to the ground. [15]

Leaves

The mature leaves are glabrescent, and lanceolate to broadly elliptic in shape. [5]

Flowers

The inflorescences are specialised structures called pseudanthia, also known simply as flower heads, containing hundred of reduced flowers, called florets. [16] The flower heads are surrounded by 'involucral bracts'; these bracts are coloured a greenish-cream, and at their apexes are fringed with white or beige-coloured beards of hair. [9] It is monoecious, both sexes occur in each flower. [7] The blooms are produced in the autumn, [6] mostly in May to June, extending from March to September. [7]

In this species the leaves below the inflorescence curiously wrap over it, insomuch as to obscure it from sight. [5] [16] It is possible that this is an evolutionary adaptation to accommodate the small mammals it uses to pollinate the florets -the stems being erect, such animals are more susceptible to predation by owls or other aerial predators, unless thus hidden by a covering of broad and stiff leaves. [16] [17]

Similar species

Protea foliosa is distinguished from the three other species classified in section Crinitae, P. intonsa, P. montana and P. vogtsiae, by being the one to grow in the form of a shrub with erect branches with terminal, clustered flower heads. Additionally, this is the only species in this group which has its flower heads obscured from sight by its surrounding leaves. [5]

P. recondita, which occurs on high mountain slopes further to the west, also has terminal flower heads which are wrapped by the surrounding and subtending leaves and bracts, but in this species the single heads are bourne much higher in the air on erect branches, [16] not near to the ground. [15]

P. foliosa has long been confused with P. tenax the first to do so was one of the first, in the early 1830s, collectors of this plant, Drège, who published about this species partially under that name in 1843. [10] Later authors maintained this confusion, Meissner correctly identified that the differently labelled collections were the same taxon, but he classified it as a new variety, latifolia, of P. tenax. [11] Beginning with Phillips around 1910, and later Stapf (1912) and Rycroft (1960), both the nominate P. tenax and var. latifolia were believed to be sympatric, with both taxa being identified from different specimens made in the same locations. [12] [13] [14] This situation persisted until 1975, when Rourke published his article The Protea tenax tangle. [8] The two species are now known to be neither allopatric nor closely related. [5]

Distribution

The species is endemic to the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. [4] It is distributed from the Elandsberg to Port Elizabeth, and Riebeek East [4] [7] to Makhanda (formerly Grahamstown) [4] or the Bushman's River Poort. It is spatially distributed as either scattered individuals to being locally abundant in occurrence. [7] It occurs over a range of 9750 km2 (extent of occurrence). [4]

Ecology

Protea foliosa can re-sprout from an underground bole after periodic wildfires move through its habitat. The seeds are stored in the old, dried, woody, fire-resistant infructescences (seed-heads) on the plant, [4] [7] and are released after two years, [7] after fires, [4] to be dispersed by the wind. [4] [7]

Although one source states that the florets of this species are pollinated by birds and insects, [4] it has been theorised since 1977 that this action was achieved by rodents. [7] [16] [15] A 2015 paper provided evidence that the main diurnal pollinator was the species Rhabdomys pumilio . [15]

Habitat

P. foliosa is almost exclusively found in fynbos habitat, in the far east of the extent of fynbos, [4] [5] but around Makhanda it grows in grassland thicket. [4] It is found in soils derived of sandstone, quartzite, [4] [7] or sometimes sedimentary conglomerates. [4] It often grows at moist sites, where it may become locally abundant, at altitudes from 150 to 600 [4] [7] (or 610) metres. [9]

Conservation

It is locally common in its range where the habitat is suitable, and is not in danger of extinction. [4] [7] The population number is thought to be stable as of 2019. The species was first assessed by the South African National Biodiversity Institute for the Red List of South African Plants as 'least concern' in 2009. This assessment was reiterated in 2019. [4]

The species is conserved in the protected areas of Longmoor Forest Area [6] and the Van Stadensberg Forest Reserve. [9]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Protea</i> Genus of South African flowering plants

Protea is a genus of South African flowering plants, also called sugarbushes. It is the type genus of the Proteaceae family.

<i>Protea magnifica</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae

Protea magnifica, commonly known as the queen protea, is a shrub, which belongs to the genus Protea within the family Proteaceae, and which is native to South Africa.

<i>Protea effusa</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae

Protea effusa, sometimes known as the scarlet sugarbush, is a flowering plant which belongs to the genus Protea. The plant is endemic to the Western Cape province of South Africa. In the Afrikaans language the vernacular name blosrooisuikerbos has been recorded for this plant.

<i>Protea pendula</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae

Protea pendula, also known as the nodding sugarbush or arid sugarbush, is a flowering plant of the genus Protea, in the family Proteaceae, which is only found growing in the wild in the Cape Region of South Africa. In the Afrikaans language it is known as knikkopsuikerbossie or ondersteboknopprotea.

<i>Protea recondita</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae

Protea recondita, also known as the hidden sugarbush, is a flowering plant of the genus Protea within the family Proteaceae, which is endemic to the Cape Region of South Africa, and distributed from the Piketberg and Cederberg to the Groot Winterhoek mountains. The flowers of this unusual plant are pollinated by non-flying mammals: rodents and elephant shrews. In the Afrikaans language it is known as gesigtoehouprotea or skaamroos.

<i>Protea sulphurea</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae

Protea sulphurea, also known as the sulphur sugarbush, is a flowering plant of the genus Protea in the family Proteaceae, which is only known to grow in the wild in the Western Cape province of South Africa. A vernacular name for the plant in the Afrikaans language is heuningkoeksuikerbos or Skaamblom.

<i>Protea intonsa</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae

Protea intonsa, also known as the tufted sugarbush, is a flowering plant of the genus Protea within the family Proteaceae, endemic to South Africa, where it is distributed from the eastern Swartberg and Kammanassie Mountains to the Baviaanskloof mountains. In Afrikaans it is known as klossie-suikerbos.

<i>Protea montana</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae endemic to South Africa

Protea montana also known as the Swartberg sugarbush, is a flowering plant of the genus Protea within the family Proteaceae, which is endemic to the southwestern Cape Region of South Africa. In Afrikaans it is known as swartbergsuikerbos.

<i>Protea vogtsiae</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae

Protea vogtsiae, also known as the Kouga sugarbush, is a small flowering shrub of the genus Protea within the family Proteaceae, which is only found growing in the wild in the southern Cape Region of South Africa.

<i>Protea pudens</i> Flowering tree

Protea pudens, also known as the bashful sugarbush, is a low-growing, groundcover-like, flowering shrub in the genus Protea. It is only found growing in the wild in a small area in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

<i>Protea burchellii</i> Species of flowering plant

Protea burchellii, also known as Burchell's sugarbush, is a flowering shrub in the genus Protea, which is endemic to the southwestern Cape Region of South Africa.

<i>Protea speciosa</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae

Protea speciosa, also known as the brown-beard sugarbush, is a flowering shrub which is classified as within the genus Protea.

<i>Protea witzenbergiana</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae

Protea witzenbergiana, or Swan sugarbush, is a flowering shrub of the genus Protea.

<i>Protea pityphylla</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae

Protea pityphylla, also known as Ceres sugarbush or mountain rose, is a flowering shrub of the genus Protea, in the family Proteaceae. The plant is endemic to the southwestern Cape Region of South Africa.

<i>Protea canaliculata</i> Species of shrub

Protea canaliculata, also known as the groove-leaf sugarbush, is a species of flowering shrub of the genus Protea, which is endemic to the Cape Provinces of South Africa.

<i>Protea pruinosa</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae

Protea pruinosa, also known as frosted sugarbush or burnished protea, is a flowering shrub which belongs to the genus Protea within the botanical family Proteaceae. The plant is endemic to the southwestern Cape Region of South Africa.

<i>Protea lorifolia</i> Species of shrub

Protea lorifolia, in English called the strap-leaved sugarbush, strap-leaved protea or strap-leaf sugarbush is a flowering shrub which belongs to the genus Protea.

<i>Protea convexa</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae

Protea convexa, also known as large-leaf sugarbush, is a rare flowering shrub in the genus Protea of the family Proteaceae, which is endemic to the southwestern Cape Region of South Africa.

<i>Protea punctata</i> Species of flowering plant

Protea punctata, also known as the water sugarbush or water white sugarbush, is a shrub belonging to the genus Protea which is found growing in the wild in South Africa.

<i>Protea decurrens</i> South African shrub

Protea decurrens, also known as linear-leaf sugarbush, is a shrub of the genus Protea, in the Proteaceae family, which is endemic to the southwestern Cape Region of South Africa. It is a small shrub with a thick underground rootstock, this structure throwing up numerous leafy branches, upon the base of which clusters of flower heads may appear close to the ground. It is pollinated by rodents and grows in low-altitude fynbos or renosterveld.

References

  1. ↑ Rebelo, A.G.; Mtshali, H.; von Staden, L. (2020). "Protea foliosa". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020: e.T113209843A185593388. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T113209843A185593388.en . Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Protea foliosa Rourke". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  3. 1 2 "Protea foliosa". International Plant Names Index . The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Harvard University Herbaria & Libraries and Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Rebelo, A.G.; Mtshali, H.; von Staden, L. (27 May 2019). "Leafy Sugarbush". Red List of South African Plants. version 2020.1. South African National Biodiversity Institute . Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Peter, Craig I.; Dold, A. P.; Melidonis, Caitlin A.; Abraham, Susan (2017). "Protea foliosa" (PDF). Flowering Plants of Africa . 65: 42–48. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Protea foliosa (Leafy sugarbush)". Biodiversity Explorer. Iziko - Museums of South Africa. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Eastern Ground Sugarbushes - Proteas". Protea Atlas Project Website. 11 March 1998. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  8. 1 2 Rourke, John Patrick (1975). "Notes on Protea in South Africa: The Protea tenax tangle". Journal of South African Botany. 41 (2): 53–62.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Specimen Details K000423688". Kew Herbarium Catalogue. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  10. 1 2 3 Drège, Jean François (1843). Zwei pflanzengeographische Documente (in German). Regensburg: Regensburgische Botanische Gesellschaft (Flora). pp. 117, 118, 127, 136, 137, 154, 155, 213. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.87612.
  11. 1 2 Meissner, Carl Daniel Friedrich (October 1856). "Ordo CLXIV. Proteaceæ (1)". In de Candolle, Alphonse (ed.). Prodromus systematis naturalis regni vegetabilis, sive, Enumeratio contracta ordinum generum specierumque plantarum huc usque cognitarium, juxta methodi naturalis, normas digesta (in Latin). Vol. 14. Paris: Sumptibus Sociorum Treuttel et Würtz. p. 244. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.286.
  12. 1 2 3 Stapf, Otto; Phillips, Edwin Percy (January 1912). "CXVII. Proteaceæ". In Thiselton-Dyer, William Turner (ed.). Flora Capensis; being a systematic description of the plants of the Cape Colony, Caffraria & Port Natal. 5. Vol. 1. London: Lovell Reeve & Co. p. 587. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.821.
  13. 1 2 "Type of Protea tenax (Salisb.) R.Br. var. latifolia Meisn. [family PROTEACEAE]". JSTOR Global Plants. Ithaka. 1 November 2007. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  14. 1 2 3 "Specimen Details K000423637". Kew Herbarium Catalogue. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 Melidonis, Caitlin A.; Peter, Craig I. (March 2015). "Diurnal pollination, primarily by a single species of rodent, documented in Protea foliosa using modified camera traps". South African Journal of Botany. 97: 9–15. doi: 10.1016/j.sajb.2014.12.009 . ISSN   0254-6299 . Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 Wiens, Delbert; Rourke, John Patrick; Casper, Brenda B.; Eric A., Rickart; Lapine, Timothy R.; C. Jeanne, Peterson; Channing, Alan (1983). "Nonflying Mammal Pollination of Southern African Proteas: A Non-Coevolved System". Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden. 70 (1): 1–31. doi:10.2307/2399006. JSTOR   2399006 . Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  17. ↑ Rourke, John Patrick (June 1980). "Rodents as pollinators of dwarf proteas". Veld & Flora. 66 (2): 54. hdl:10520/AJA00423203_1071. ISSN   0042-3203.
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