Serruria rubricaulis, the red-stem spiderhead, is a flowering shrub that belongs to the genus Serruria and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is endemic to the Western Cape and occurs from the Kleinrivierberge to the Elim plain and seaward. The shrub is small, upright and grows only 30 cm tall and flowers from July to November.

Serruria rubricaulis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Proteales
Family: Proteaceae
Genus: Serruria
Species:
S. rubricaulis
Binomial name
Serruria rubricaulis
R.Br., (1810)

The plant sprouts again after a fire. Two months after flowering, the fruit falls and ants disperse the seeds. They store the seeds in their nests. The plant is unisexual. Pollination takes place through the action of insects. The plant grows in clay and acid soil at elevations of 20 – 100 m.

References edit

  1. ^ Rebelo, A.G.; Mtshali, H.; von Staden, L. (2020). "Serruria rubricaulis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T113238873A185593900. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T113238873A185593900.en. Retrieved 18 August 2023.

Sources edit