Paranomus longicaulis, commonly known as exploding baked apple and woolly sceptre,[3] is a flower-bearing shrub that belongs to the genus Paranomus and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is native to the Western Cape where it occurs on the eastern Langeberg from Garcia Pass to the Attakwaskloof.[4]

Paranomus longicaulis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Proteales
Family: Proteaceae
Genus: Paranomus
Species:
P. longicaulis
Binomial name
Paranomus longicaulis
Salisb. ex Knight
Synonyms[2]
  • Nivenia diversifolia E.Phillips & Hutch.
  • Paranomus diversifolius (E.Phillips & Hutch.) E.Phillips
  • Protea diversifolia Poir.
  • Soranthe diversifolia Kuntze
  • Sorocephalus diversifolius R.Br.

The shrub grows up to 2.5 m tall and flowers mainly from September to December. Fire destroys the plant but the seeds survive. The plant is bisexual and pollination takes place through the action of insects.[5] The fruit ripens two months after the plant has flowered and the seeds fall to the ground where they are spread by ants. The plant grows in sandstone soil at altitudes of 400 - 600 m.[6]

In Afrikaans, the shrub is known as the poppiebos.

References

edit
  1. ^ Rebelo, A.G.; Mtshali, H.; von Staden, L. (2020). "Paranomus longicaulis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020. IUCN: e.T113201506A185572283. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T113201506A185572283.en.
  2. ^ "Paranomus longicaulis". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  3. ^ "Threatened Species Programme | SANBI Red List of South African Plants". redlist.sanbi.org.
  4. ^ "Paranomus longicaulis (Exploding baked apple)". biodiversityexplorer.info.
  5. ^ "Paranomus longicaulis | PlantZAfrica". pza.sanbi.org.
  6. ^ "Woolly Sceptres". www.proteaatlas.org.za.

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