Diastella proteoides, the Flats silkypuff, 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 occurs on the Cape Flats from Tokai to Malmesbury and Eerste River. The shrub is flat and grows only 50 cm high but 3 m in diameter and flowers throughout the year with the peak from July to February.
| Diastella proteoides | |
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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. proteoides
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| Binomial name | |
| Diastella proteoides (L.) Druce
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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 sandy plains at altitudes of 0–150 m.
Gallery
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References
edit- ^ Rebelo, A.G.; Mtshali, H.; Raimondo, D. (2020). "Diastella proteoides". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020. IUCN: e.T112605830A185540996. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T112605830A185540996.en.
- ^ "Diastella proteoides". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
External links
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Media related to Diastella proteoides at Wikimedia Commons- "Threatened Species Programme | SANBI Red List of South African Plants". redlist.sanbi.org. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- "Southern Silkypuffs". proteaatlas.org.za. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- "Diastella proteoides". biodiversityexplorer.info. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
