Sorocephalus lanatus

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Sorocephalus lanatus
Sorocephalus lanatus Helme 2.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Proteales
Family: Proteaceae
Genus: Sorocephalus
Species:
S. lanatus
Binomial name
Sorocephalus lanatus
Synonyms [2]
  • Protea lanata Thunb.
  • Soranthe ciliciiflora Knight
  • Soranthe lanata (Thunb.) Kuntze
  • Soranthe phylicoides (Meisn.) Kuntze
  • Sorocephalus phylicoides Meisn.
  • Sorocephalus schlechteri E.Phillips

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.

The shrub grows only 80 cm tall, tends to spread and flowers from September to April with the peak in December. Fire destroys the plant but the seeds survive. The plant is bisexual and pollination takes place through the action of insects. The fruit ripens, two months after flowering, and the seeds fall to the ground where they are spread by ants. The plant's habitat varies according to elevation, it is found at elevations of 1500-1850 m.

Related Research Articles

<i>Sorocephalus</i> Genus of plants endemic to the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa

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.

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

Protea grandiceps, commonly known as rooisuikerbos, suikerbos or red sugarbush, is a flowering shrub that belongs to the Protea genus and is native to parts south western parts of South Africa. The shrub was listed as a near threatened species in 2006 according to the South African National Biodiversity Institute.

<i>Spatalla longifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

Spatalla longifolia, the pink-stalked spoon, is a flower-bearing shrub that belongs to the genus Spatalla. It forms a part of the fynbos. The plant is native to the Western Cape of South Africa where it is found in the Hottentots-Holland Mountains; from Franschhoek and Villiersdorp to the Kleinmond Mountains.

<i>Spatalla propinqua</i> Species of plant

Spatalla propinqua, the lax spoon, is a flower-bearing shrub belonging to genus Spatalla, and forming a part of the fynbos vegetation. The plant is native to the Western Cape of South Africa.

<i>Spatalla curvifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

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 mollis, the woolly 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.

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.

Spatalla barbigera, the fine-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 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.

<i>Spatalla racemosa</i> Species of flowering plant

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.

Leucadendron muirii, the silver-ball conebush, is a flower-bearing shrub that belongs to the genus Leucadendron and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is native to the Western Cape, where it is found on the Elim, Bredasdorp and Riversdale plains. The shrub grows to 2.0 m in height and bears flowers from November to December.

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 crassifolius, the flowerless 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. The plants were last seen in flower in the 1980s. There are only fifteen plants left.

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.

References

  1. Rebelo, A.G.; Mtshali, H.; von Staden, L. (2020). "Sorocephalus lanatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . IUCN. 2020: e.T113240293A185546154. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T113240293A185546154.en .
  2. "Sorocephalus lanatus". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 7 January 2022.