Biology:Protea nubigena
| Cloud sugarbush | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Proteales |
| Family: | Proteaceae |
| Genus: | Protea |
| Species: | P. nubigena
|
| Binomial name | |
| Protea nubigena Rourke[2]
| |
Protea nubigena, commonly known as cloud sugarbush,[2][3] is a very rare species of a flowering shrub belonging to the Protea genus. It is endemic to KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa[2][4] and is found in the uKhahlamba Basalt Grassland within the Royal Natal National Park, near Mont-Aux-Sources, at an altitude of about 2,250 metres (7,380 ft) in well-drained, humus-rich soil on shaded slopes.[2][5]
Description
The plant grows as an erect shrub which is up to 70 cm (28 in) high, and blooms from March to April. It is a long-lived species, and survives fires by resprouting from underground boles or rootstocks. The plant is monoecious with both sexes in each flower; the wind-dispersed seeds are not stored on the plant and are released immediately after ripening. It is pollinated by birds.[2][3]
Conservation
It is listed as 'critically endangered' on the SANBI red list, as the population of mature individual plants within the one known location are in decline, mostly due to poor fire management.[2][6]
References
- ↑ Rebelo, A.G.; Mtshali, H.; von Staden, L. (2020). "Protea nubigena". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T113211106A185570554. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T113211106A185570554.en. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/113211106/185570554. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 "SANBI Red List of South African Plants". 1 September 2006. http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=799-98.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Pajor, Istvan. "Grassland Sugarbushes". https://www.proteaatlas.org.za/sugar11.htm.
- ↑ "Protea nubigena Rourke - Detail". https://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/details.php?langue=an&id=82741.
- ↑ "Protea nubigena Rourke". 4 April 1978. http://legacy.tropicos.org/Name/26500496.
- ↑ Pajor, Istvan. "Protea nubigena CLOUD PROTEA in the Drakensberg". https://www.proteaatlas.org.za/p12prn.htm.
Sources
- Pooley, Elsa (2003). Mountain flowers : a field guide to the flora of the Drakensberg and Lesotho. Durban South Africa: Flora Publications Trust, c/o Natal Herbarium. ISBN 978-0-620-30221-0. OCLC 53281866.
Wikidata ☰ Q18080125 entry
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