Diastella divaricata is a flower-bearing shrub that belongs to the genus Diastella and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is native to the Western Cape and is found on the Cape Peninsula south of the Silvermine Nature Reserve. The shrub is flat and grows only 50 cm high but 3 m in diameter and flowers throughout the year without an obvious peak.
| Diastella divaricata | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Proteales |
| Family: | Proteaceae |
| Genus: | Diastella |
| Species: | D. divaricata
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| Binomial name | |
| Diastella divaricata (P.J.Bergius) Rourke
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| Synonyms[2] | |
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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. Pollination takes place through the action of bees. The plant grows in moist sand at altitudes of 0–600 m.
References
edit- ^ Rebelo, A.G.; Mtshali, H.; Raimondo, D. (2020). "Diastella divaricata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020. IUCN: e.T112605232A185547408. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T112605232A185547408.en.
- ^ "Diastella divaricata". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
External links
edit- "Threatened Species Programme | SANBI Red List of South African Plants". redlist.sanbi.org. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
- "Southern Silkypuffs". proteaatlas.org.za. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
- "Diastella divaricata". biodiversityexplorer.info. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
Media related to Diastella divaricata at Wikimedia Commons
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