Biology:Liparia splendens
| Liparia splendens | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Genus: | Liparia |
| Species: | L. splendens
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| Binomial name | |
| Liparia splendens Burm.f.
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| Subspecies[1] | |
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Liparia splendens is endemic to the fynbos of South Africa .[2]
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Liparia splendens (locally called orange nodding-head or mountain dahlia; “Skaamblom” (Shy flower) in Afrikaans) is a flowering fynbos shrub of the Fabaceae (legume) family, that occurs in the South-western Cape of South Africa .
Description
In spite of its common name, this plant is in fact unrelated to Dahlia, and is part of the legume family.
This multi-branching, re-sprouting, flowering shrub reaches about 1 metre in height. The flowers ("nodding heads") appear from autumn until summer. The flower heads each comprise over 15 individual flowers and are orange-yellow in colour.
The flowers resemble those of Protea, as they have adapted to the same pollinator, the sunbird.
The plant can survive the frequent fynbos fires as it has a large, strong underground root-stock from which it resprouts. However it can be challenging to grow in cultivation unless its needs are met, which are moderate temperatures and humidity, and well-draining soil.[3]
Distribution
Classed as Vulnerable on the IUCN global Red List, this plant is found in mountain and lowland fynbos in the Western Cape, South Africa . Here it is found from the Cape Peninsula in the west, as far east as Albertinia and Riversdale.[4]
It has two main subspecies, splendens around the Cape Peninsula, and subsp. comantha further east.
References
- ↑ "A reappraisal of the generic status of Liparia and Priestleya (Fabaceae)". Taxon 43 (4): 573–582. 1994. doi:10.2307/1223543.
- ↑ Schutte AL. (1997). "Systematics of the genus Liparia (Fabaceae)". Nord J Bot 17 (1): 11–37. doi:10.1111/j.1756-1051.1997.tb00287.x.
- ↑ "Liparia splendens". http://pza.sanbi.org/liparia-splendens-subsp-splendens.
- ↑ http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantklm/lipariasplend.htm
External links
Wikidata ☰ Q5457943 entry
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