Sorocephalus is a genus containing 11 species of flowering plants, commonly known as powderpuffs, in the family Proteaceae. The name means “heaped head”. The genus is endemic to the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa, more particularly the winter rainfall zone of the southwestern Cape. The species are all small shrubs characterised by flower-heads containing clusters of four or more flowers. Most species are threatened.
Protea mucronifolia, the dagger-leaf sugarbush, is a flower-bearing shrub belonging to the Protea genus. The plant is endemic to the Western Cape where it occurs from Hermon to Saron. This is the only population. The shrub grows upright and grows 1 m tall and flowers from October to January with the peak from November to December.
Leucadendron sorocephalodes, the woolly conebush, is a flower-bearing shrub belonging to the genus Leucadendron and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is native to the Western Cape and Eastern Cape where it occurs from the Outeniqua Mountains to the Baviaanskloof Mountains.
Leucadendron tradouwense, the Tradouw conebush, is a flower-bearing shrub belonging to the genus Leucadendron and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is native to the Western Cape, where it occurs in the Langeberg Range at the Tradouws Pass and Groot Vadersbos. The plant is rare, there are only two known populations.
Leucadendron singulare, the Kammanassie conebush, is a flower-bearing shrub belonging to the genus Leucadendron and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is native to the Western Cape where it occurs in the Mannetjiesberg in the Kammanassie Mountains. The plant is rare. The shrub grows only 30 cm high and spreads out. It blooms in October. The plant dies after a fire, but the seeds survive. The seeds are stored in a toll on the female plant and fall out of the toll to the ground after two months where they are spread by ants. The plant is single-faced and there are separate plants with male and female flowers, which are pollinated by insects. The plant grows in crevices on peaks at heights of 2,000 - 2,150 m.
Leucadendron sericeum, the Wabooms conebush, is a flower-bearing shrub belonging to the genus Leucadendron and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is native to the Western Cape, South Africa.
Leucadendron platyspermum, the plate-seed conebush, is a flower-bearing shrub belonging to the genus Leucadendron. It form part of the fynbos biome. The plant is native to the Western Cape where it occurs from the Donkerhoekberg near Villiersdorp, Groenlandberg and Kleinmondberge from Houhoek to the Elimvlakte.
Spatalla curvifolia, the white-stalked spoon, is a flower-bearing shrub that forms part of the fynbos. The plant is native to the Western Cape of South Africa.
Spatalla argentea, the silver-leaf spoon, is a flower-bearing shrub that belongs to the genus Spatalla and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is endemic to the Western Cape Province of South Africa.
Sorocephalus lanatus, the common clusterhead, is a flower-bearing shrub that belongs to the genus Sorocephalus and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is native to the Western Cape and occurs in the Cederberg, Groot Winterhoek and Hex River Mountains.
Sorocephalus imbricatus, the tile-leaf clusterhead, is a flower-bearing shrub that belongs to the genus Sorocephalus and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is native to the Western Cape where it is found in the Piketberg, Groot Winterhoek and Elandskloof mountains. However, plants were last observed at the latter two sites 50 years ago.
Spatalla racemosa, the lax-stalked spoon, is a flower-bearing shrub that belongs to the genus Spatalla and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is native to the Western Cape of South Africa where it is found in the Kogelberg, Groenland mountains, Babilonstoringberge, Kleinrivier Mountains as well as at Villiersdorp.
Sorocephalus alopecurus, the woolly-stalk clusterhead, is a flowering shrub that belongs to the genus Sorocephalus and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is endemic to the Western Cape where it occurs in the Riviersonderendberge.
Sorocephalus capitatusis, the woolly clusterhead, is a flowering shrub that belongs to the genus Sorocephalus and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is endemic to the Western Cape where it occurs on the Piketberg and Onderboskloof in the Koue Bokkeveld.
Sorocephalus clavigerus, the erect clusterhead, is a flowering shrub that belongs to the genus Sorocephalus and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is endemic to the Western Cape where it occurs on the Kogelberg and Kleinrivierberge.
Sorocephalus palustris, the mat clusterhead or prostrate clusterhead, is a flowering shrub that belongs to the genus Sorocephalus and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is endemic to the Western Cape where it occurs on the Kogelberg. The plant was considered extinct and was last seen in 1984. Very little information is available on the species.
Sorocephalus pinifolius, the long-leaf clusterhead, is a flowering shrub that belongs to the genus Sorocephalus and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is endemic to the Western Cape where it occurs on the Riviersonderendberge near Tygerhoek.
Sorocephalus scabridus, the Tulbagh clusterhead, is a flowering shrub that belongs to the genus Sorocephalus and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is endemic to the Western Cape where it occurs in the Great Winterhoek Mountains to the Olifants River Mountains.
Sorocephalus tenuifolius, the diminutive clusterhead, is a flowering shrub that belongs to the genus Sorocephalus and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is endemic to the Western Cape where it occurs in the Palmiet River valley in the Kogelberg. The plant was considered extinct in 1987 but a new population was discovered.
Sorocephalus teretifolius, the pinhead clusterhead, is a flowering shrub that belongs to the genus Sorocephalus and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is endemic to the Western Cape where it occurs in the Palmiet River valley in the Kogelberg.
