Protea sulphurea

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Protea sulphurea
Protea sulphurea outramps-tanniedi iNat20173472a.jpg
Protea sulphurea in South Africa
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Proteales
Family: Proteaceae
Genus: Protea
Species:
P. sulphurea
Binomial name
Protea sulphurea

Protea sulphurea, also known as the sulphur sugarbush, [3] [4] [5] is a flowering plant of the genus Protea in the family Proteaceae, [3] [4] [5] which is only known to grow in the wild in the Western Cape province of South Africa. [3] [6] A vernacular name for the plant in the Afrikaans language is heuningkoeksuikerbos or Skaamblom (shy flower) .[ citation needed ]

Contents

Taxonomy

Protea sulphurea was first described by Edwin Percy Phillips in 1910. [2] [7] [8] A type series (#3208) was originally collected by the German explorer Rudolf Marloth in 1903; there are at least three specimen sheets labelled as Marloth3208 housed at the Kew Herbarium. [6] [7] Another, possibly older, specimen was also collected by one Pearson (perhaps Thomas Pearson Stokoe), who was possibly the first European to collect this species. [7] [8] Phillips gives neither a type for the taxon, nor an etymology for the specific epithet. [7] Otto Stapf designated the Pearson collection as the holotype in 1912, [8] but in 1972 John Patrick Rourke overturned this for some reason, and selected one of the three sheets of Marloth's collections at Kew as the lectotype. [9]

Description

This species grows into a low, squat, [5] [8] woody, [9] densely-branched shrub up to 0.5 [5] 1.8 [8] or 2 m tall. [9] The branches are glabrous. [8] The leaves are glaucous (or yellowish when dry or during droughts), [4] [8] indistinctly veined, minutely rugulose (having a finely wrinkled surface and texture), 2–3 centimetres (0.79–1.18 in) long, and 6 to 13 mm broad. Their shape is either narrowly obovate-cuneate or oblanceolate. [8]

Protea sulphurea flower heads are pendulous; they hang upside down. The brightly-coloured involucral bracts are visible in this photograph. Protea sulphurea outramps-tanniedi iNat20173472c.jpg
Protea sulphurea flower heads are pendulous; they hang upside down. The brightly-coloured involucral bracts are visible in this photograph.

The flowers are produced from April to August, [5] densely packed together within large inflorescences. These inflorescences, or more specifically pseudanthia (also called 'flower heads'), are almost sessile (having a very short and indistinct peduncle), and hang downwards towards the ground. They have a 2.5 centimetres (0.98 in) long receptacles which are conical in shape. The flower head is surrounded by petal-like structures called 'involucral bracts', these are glabrous and arranged in a series of nine or ten rows. The outer bracts have somewhat pointy ends, ovate in shape and minutely ciliate (having a fringe of hairs like an eyelash at their margins). The inner bracts are oblong or spathulate-oblong in shape, and are longer than the actual flowers. [8] It is monoecious, both sexes occur in each flower. [5] The petals and sepals of the flowers are fused into a tube-like, 2.3 centimetres (0.91 in) long perianth-sheath. This sheath is dilated, has three keels and six to seven veins on the lower portion, has an 8.5 mm lip, and generally glabrous except for a few setose (bristly, stiff) hairs from the base to near the upper parts of the outer surface. The lip is slightly recurved, has a few scattered setose hairs on it, and has three teeth at its end. The two outer of these teeth are longer than the middle one, at 1.4 mm long versus 1 mm. All of the stamens are fertile. Their filaments are 0.53 mm long and channelled. The anthers are linear and 4.8 mm long. The apical glands are 0.35 mm in length, ovate in shape and end in an acute point. There are oblong and obtuse (blunt) hypogynous scales which are 1.4 mm in length. The ovary is covered in long, spreading, yellow-brown hairs. The style is 2.65 mm long, falcate, compressed, glabrous and tapers towards both ends. The stigma is 5.3 mm long, with an obtuse end, grooved, and almost imperceptibly becomes the style. [8]

Similar species

It is similar to Protea effusa , primarily differing in having conically-shaped receptacles within the inflorescence, and also to P. pendula, from which it differs by having wider leaves with indistinct venation. [7]

Distribution

The plant is endemic to the Western Cape province of South Africa. [3] It is found distributed from the Hex River Mountains, [5] through the Witteberg Mountains, [4] [7] [8] to the Swartberg mountains and the Waboomsberg, which is one of the Koue Bokkeveld Mountains. [5] It occurs near the town of Matjiesfontein. [4] [7] [8] [9]

Ecology

Mature plants are killed in the periodic wildfires which sweep its habitat, but the seeds can survive such occasions. [5] It flowers in the Autumn [4] [5] and Winter, from April to August. The flowers are pollinated by birds and small non-flying mammals. [10] Small mammal pollinators include Micaelamys namaquensis and Elephantulus edwardii . [11] The fruits may be retained for a few years. Seeds are stored in seed heads on the plant and dispersed by means of the wind. [5]

Habitat

It is found in arid areas, [5] in a habitat which is most commonly fynbos, although near the town of Matjiesfontein it also grows in renosterveld in a shale-derived soil, as well as in the shale fynbos in that area. [3] It is usually found growing in sandstone-derived soils, [3] [5] although a few populations, all found around Matjiesfontein, also grow here in a quartzite-derived substrate and the aforementioned shale. [3] It is found at between 1,000 and 1,550 metres in altitude. [5]

Conservation

This species is not threatened. [5] The state of the population numbers is considered stable. In 2009 the South African National Biodiversity Institute first assessed this species to have the conservation status of 'least concern', an opinion that was reiterated by the institute in 2019. [3]

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

Protea neriifolia, also known as the narrow-leaf sugarbush, oleander-leaved sugarbush, blue sugarbush, or the oleanderleaf protea, is a flowering plant in the genus Protea, which is endemic to South Africa.

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

Protea gaguedi is a species of tree which belongs to the genus Protea.

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

Protea comptonii, also known as saddleback sugarbush, is a smallish tree of the genus Protea in the family Proteaceae. It is found in South Africa and Eswatini.

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

Protea aristata is a compact shrub with beautiful flowers which is endemic to the southwestern part of the Cape Region of South Africa. P. aristata has become one of South Africa's most famous proteas in spite of its relatively late discovery, and re-discovery in 1953. The leaves are soft, dense and needle-like and the flower heads are a stunning crimson red, it may thus be a good potential ornamental plant for South African gardens. It is usually called the Ladismith sugarbush in South African English, although it has been called pine sugar bush in Australia. In the Afrikaans language it has the vernacular name of klein-den-suikerbos.

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

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

<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 rubropilosa</i> Flowering tree

Protea rubropilosa, also known as the Transvaal sugarbush, escarpment sugarbush or Transvaal mountain sugarbush, is a flowering tree, that belongs to the genus Protea in the family Proteaceae. The plant only occurs in 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 angustata</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae

Protea angustata, also known as the Kleinmond sugarbush, is a flowering shrub that belongs to the genus Protea. This plant is endemic to the south-west Cape Region of South Africa.

<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 laevis</i> Species of shrub

Protea laevis, also known as the smooth-leaf sugarbush, is a flowering shrub that belongs within 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 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 sulphurea". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020: e.T113221372A185581670. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T113221372A185581670.en . Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Protea sulphurea". International Plant Names Index . The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Harvard University Herbaria & Libraries and Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Rebelo, A.G.; Mtshali, H.; von Staden, L. (13 June 2019). "Sulphur Sugarbush". Red List of South African Plants. version 2020.1. South African National Biodiversity Institute . Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Protea sulphurea (Sulphur sugarbush)". Biodiversity Explorer. Iziko - Museums of South Africa. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 "Penduline Sugarbushes - Proteas". Protea Atlas Project Website. 11 March 1998. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  6. 1 2 "Protea sulphurea E.Phillips". Plants of the World Online . Kew Science. 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Phillips, Edwin Percy (1910). "Diagnoses Africanae: XXXVII". Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information, Royal Gardens, Kew (in Latin). 1910 (7): 234. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 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. 591. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.821.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "Specimen Details K000423620". Kew Herbarium Catalogue. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  10. ↑ Wiens, D., Rourke, J., Casper, B., Rickart, E., LaPine, T., Peterson, C., & Channing, A. (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
  11. ↑ Kühn, N., Midgley, J. & Steenhuisen, S.-L. (2017). Reproductive biology of three co-occurring, primarily small-mammal pollinated Protea species (Proteaceae). South African Journal of Botany,113: 337-345. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2017.08.020
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