Sorocephalus crassifolius

Sorocephalus crassifolius, the flowerless clusterhead, is a flowering shrub that belongs to the genus Sorocephalus and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is endemic to the Western Cape where it occurs on the Riviersonderendberge. The plants were last seen in flower in the 1980s. There are only fifteen plants left.

Sorocephalus crassifolius
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Proteales
Family: Proteaceae
Genus: Sorocephalus
Species:
S. crassifolius
Binomial name
Sorocephalus crassifolius
Hutch.

The shrub grows only 80 cm tall, tends to spread and flowers from December to February. The plant sprouts again after a fire. The plant is bisexual and pollination takes place through the action of insects. Two months after the plant has flowered, the fruit ripens and the seeds fall to the ground where they are spread by ants. The plant grows at elevations of 1280 – 1460 m.

References

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  1. ^ Rebelo, A.G.; Mtshali, H.; Raimondo, D.; Helme, N.A. (2020). "Sorocephalus crassifolius". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T113240273A185551451. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T113240273A185551451.en. Retrieved 19 August 2023.

Sources

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