Leucadendron chamelaea, the Witsenberg conebush, is a flower-bearing shrub that belongs to the genus Leucadendron and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is native to the Western Cape, South Africa.
| Leucadendron chamelaea | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Proteales |
| Family: | Proteaceae |
| Genus: | Leucadendron |
| Species: | L. chamelaea
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| Binomial name | |
| Leucadendron chamelaea (Lam.) I.Williams
| |
Description
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The shrub grows 2.3 m (7.5 ft) tall and bears flowers in September. Two months after the plant has flowered, the fruit appears and the seeds later fall to the ground.
Fire destroys the plant but the seeds survive. The plant is unisexual, there are male and female plants. Insects do the pollination and agriculture threatens the survival of the plant.
In Afrikaans, it is known as the witsenbergtolbos.
Distribution and habitat
editThe plant occurs from the Kouebokkeveld Mountains to the Franschhoek Valley. It grows in sandstone sand at heights of 100–1,000 m (330–3,280 ft).
Gallery
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References
edit- ^ Rebelo, A.G.; Mtshali, H.; Raimondo, D.; Koopman, R.; Helme, N.A. (2020). "Leucadendron chamelaea". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T113166688A185551048. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T113166688A185551048.en. Retrieved 11 August 2021.