Leucadendron chamelaea

Leucadendron chamelaea, the Witsenberg 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, South Africa.

Leucadendron chamelaea
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Proteales
Family: Proteaceae
Genus: Leucadendron
Species:
L. chamelaea
Binomial name
Leucadendron chamelaea
(Lam.) I.Williams

Description

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The shrub grows 2.3 m (7.5 ft) tall and bears flowers in September. Two months after the plant has flowered, the fruit appears and the seeds later fall to the ground.

Fire destroys the plant but the seeds survive. The plant is unisexual, there are male and female plants. Insects do the pollination and agriculture threatens the survival of the plant.

In Afrikaans, it is known as the witsenbergtolbos.

Distribution and habitat

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The plant occurs from the Kouebokkeveld Mountains to the Franschhoek Valley. It grows in sandstone sand at heights of 100–1,000 m (330–3,280 ft).

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References

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  1. ^ Rebelo, A.G.; Mtshali, H.; Raimondo, D.; Koopman, R.; Helme, N.A. (2020). "Leucadendron chamelaea". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T113166688A185551048. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T113166688A185551048.en. Retrieved 11 August 2021.