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.
Leucadendron rubrum, the spinning top, 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 eucalyptifolium, the gum-leaved 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 the Eastern Cape, where it occurs in the Potberg, Riversdal Plains, Langeberg, Outeniqua Mountains, Tsitsikamma Mountains, Kouga Mountains, Elandsberg, Swartberg, Waboomsberg, Warmwaterberg, Touwsberg, Rooiberg and Soetwaterberg. The shrub grows 4 m tall and bears flowers from July to October.
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.
Spatalla parilis, the spike spoon, is a flowering shrub belonging to the genus Spatalla. It forms part of the fynbos. The plant is native to the Western Cape of 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.
Paranomus dregei, the scented sceptre, is a flowering shrub belonging to the genus Paranomus. The plant is native to the Western Cape, South Africa.
Paranomus lagopus, the rabbit-paw sceptre, is a flower-bearing shrub that belongs to the genus Paranomus and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is native to the Western Cape where it occurs in the Koue Bokkeveld Mountains, Groot-Winterhoek Mountains and Elandskloof Mountain.
Paranomus dispersus, the long-head sceptre, is a flower-bearing shrub that belongs to the genus Paranomus and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is native to the Western Cape, South Africa.
Paranomus esterhuyseniae, the Kouga sceptre, is a flower-bearing shrub that belongs to the genus Paranomus and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is native to the Western Cape where it occurs in the Kouga Mountains and Outeniqua Mountains.
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.
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 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.
