| Serruria furcellata | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Proteales |
| Family: | Proteaceae |
| Genus: | Serruria |
| Species: | S. furcellata |
| Binomial name | |
| Serruria furcellata | |
Serruria furcellata, the Kraaifontein spiderhead, is a flower-bearing shrub that belongs to the genus Serruria and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is native to the Western Cape, specifically found in Brackenfell, Kraaifontein and Kuils River. [2]
The shrub is erect and grows only 50 cm tall and bears flowers from August to October. [3]
After a fire, the plant's roots can sprout again. Two months after flowering, the fruit falls off and ants disperse the seeds. They store the seeds in their nests. The plant is unisexual. Pollination takes place through the action of insects. The plant grows in sandy soil at elevations of 90 – 390 m. [3]
The Kraaifontein Spiderhead, found in the fynbos biome on sandy flats with an altitude range of 0–100 m, is resilient to wildfires, resprouting from underground structures. Its reproductive strategy involves seed dispersal by ants, facilitating protection from predators and germination after fires. However, the species faces severe threats, with 86% of its habitat irreversibly modified due to urban and industrial development in the City of Cape Town. The remaining habitat is degraded by invasive species, over-burning, and disturbances, with the only known subpopulation confined to a severely degraded area smaller than one hectare in the northern Cape Flats. [4]
This plant has previously been considered extinct. In 1985 it occurred in only two places, near Kraaifontein and close to Bottelary Heuwels, where in 1979 three plants were identified. After 1985, however, there was no sign of the plants at the two sites and it was assumed that the species became extinct. [5] In 2004, however, two plants were discovered at North Pine, but one was soon destroyed by the municipality's bush cutting program.
However, Cape Town's Environmental Resource Management Division developed the 36-hectare Bracken Nature Reserve where native plants are preserved. [6] Kraaifontein spiderhead specimens were transplanted after successful garden cultivation. [5]
Serruria decipiens, the Sandveld spiderhead, is a flower-bearing shrub that belongs to the genus Serruria. It forms part of the fynbos biome. The plant is native to the Western Cape, where it only occurs on the Sandveld, Hopefield, the Cape Flats, Piketberg, and Olifants River Mountains. The shrub is round and grows 1.0 m tall and bears flowers from July to October.
Serruria fucifolia, the northern spiderhead, is a flower-bearing shrub that belongs to the genus Serruria and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is native to the Western Cape, South Africa.
Serruria brownii, the bottlebrush spiderhead, is a flower-bearing shrub that belongs to the family Proteaceae and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is native to the Western Cape, South Africa.
Serruria candicans, the shiny spiderhead, is a flower-bearing shrub that belongs to the genus Serruria and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is native to the Western Cape, where it occurs from Elandskloof to the Slanghoek Mountains and Paardeberg at Malmesbury. The shrub is erect and grows only 80 cm tall and bears flowers from July to December.
Serruria cyanoides, the Wynberg spiderhead, is a flower-bearing shrub that belongs to the genus Serruria and forms part of the fynbos.
Serruria glomerata, the cluster spiderhead, is a flower-bearing shrub that belongs to the genus Serruria and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is native to the Western Cape, occuring on the Cape Flats and Cape Peninsula. The shrub is erect and grows only 40 cm tall and bears flowers from August to October.
Serruria lacunosa, the Matsikamma spiderhead, is a flower-bearing shrub that belongs to the genus Serruria and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is native to the Western Cape and occurs on the Gifberg. The shrub grows up to 1.5 m tall and flowers from September to April.
Serruria bolusii, the Agulhas spiderhead, is a flower-bearing shrub that belongs to the genus Serruria and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is native to the Western Cape and is found in Elim hills and Soetanysberg. The shrub grows upright to 1.0 m tall and flowers from August to December.
Serruria villosa, the golden spiderhead, is a flower-bearing shrub that belongs to the genus Serruria and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is native to the Western Cape, where it occurs only on the Cape Peninsula and just south of Constantia. The shrub is erect and grows only 50 cm tall and bears flowers from April to July.
Serruria stellata, the star spiderhead, is a flower-bearing shrub that belongs to the genus Serruria and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is native to the Western Cape, South Africa.
Serruria dodii, the Hex River spiderhead, is a flowering shrub that belongs to the genus Serruria and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is endemic to the Western Cape and occurs in the Hex River Mountains and Keeromsberg. The shrub grows upright, reaches a height of 1.0 m and flowers from August to November.
Serruria decumbensis, the peninsula spiderhead, a flowering shrub that belongs to the genus Serruria and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is endemic to the Western Cape and occurs in the Cape Peninsula from Kommetjie to Gifkommetjie. The shrub is flat but grows 1.0 m high and flowers from July to October
Serruria pinnata, the graceful spiderhead, is a flowering shrub that belongs to the genus Serruria and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is endemic to the Western Cape and occurs from the Cape Plain near Durbanville to the Hottentots-Hollandberge. The shrub is flat and grows 1.0 m high and flowers from July to October.
Serruria linearis, the needle-leaf spiderhead, is a flowering shrub that belongs to the genus Serruria and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is endemic to the Western Cape and occurs from Mamre to Dassenberg. The shrub grows upright, reaches a height of 80 cm and flowers from August to November.
Serruria gracilis, the graceful spiderhead, is a flowering shrub that belongs to the genus Serruria and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is endemic to the Western Cape, where it occurs on the Cape Flats from Durbanville to and in the Hottentots-Hollandberge and Du Toitskloofberge. The shrub is flat, grows 1.0 m high and bears flowers from July to October.
Serruria roxburghii, the short-leaf spiderhead, is a flowering shrub that belongs to the genus Serruria and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is endemic to the Western Cape and occurs at Paarlberg, Paardeberg in Malmesbury, and Riebeek-Kasteel. The shrub grows to 1.0 m high and flowers from September to November.
Serruria rubricaulis, the red-stem spiderhead, is a flowering shrub that belongs to the genus Serruria and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is endemic to the Western Cape and occurs from the Kleinrivierberge to the Elim plain and seaward. The shrub is small, upright and grows only 30 cm tall and flowers from July to November.
Serruria scoparia, the forlorn spiderhead, is a flowering shrub that belongs to the genus Serruria and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is endemic to the Western Cape and occurs from Riebeeck-East to the Paarl. The shrub is small with creeping stems and grows to only 40 cm high and flowers from August to October.
Serruria millefolia, the millileaf spiderhead, is a flowering shrub that belongs to the genus Serruria and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is endemic to the Western Cape and occurs in the Sandveld from the Bokkeveld Mountains escarpment to the Olifants River Mountains. The shrub grows upright, only 50 cm high and flowers from August to December
Serruria rebeloi, the clandestine spiderhead, is a flowering shrub that belongs to the genus Serruria and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is endemic to the Western Cape and occurs in the Akkedisberg and Bredasdorp mountains. The shrub is flat and grows only 20 cm high and flowers from September to October
