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 | |
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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]- ^ 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. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f "SANBI Red List of South African Plants". Threatened Species Programme. 1 September 2006. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- ^ a b Pajor, Istvan. "Grassland Sugarbushes". Protea Atlas Project. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- ^ "Protea nubigena Rourke - Detail". African plant database. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- ^ "Protea nubigena Rourke". Tropicos. 4 April 1978. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- ^ Pajor, Istvan. "Protea nubigena CLOUD PROTEA in the Drakensberg". Protea Atlas Project. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
Sources
[edit]- 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.
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