Biology:Serruria stellata

From HandWiki
Short description: Species of flowering plant

Serruria stellata
Serruria stellata 104693197.jpg
Serruria stellata 104693258.jpg
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Proteales
Family: Proteaceae
Genus: Serruria
Species:
S. stellata
Binomial name
Serruria stellata
Rourke

Serruria stellata, the star 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, South Africa .

Description

The shrub is small with creeping stems and grows only 20 cm (7.9 in) tall and flowers from September to November. Fire destroys the plant but the seeds survive. Two months after flowering, the fruit falls off and ants disperse the seeds. They store the seeds in their nests. The plant is unisexual and pollinated by insects.

In Afrikaans, it is known as sterspinnekopbos.

Distribution and habitat

The plant occurs from the Stettyns Mountains to the western Riviersonderend Mountains. It grows in sandstone sand at elevations of 900–1,200 m (3,000–3,900 ft).

References

Wikidata ☰ Q18084216 entry