Serruria stellata, the star spiderhead, is a flower-bearing shrub that belongs to the genus Serruria and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is native to the Western Cape, South Africa.
| Serruria stellata | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Proteales |
| Family: | Proteaceae |
| Genus: | Serruria |
| Species: | S. stellata
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| Binomial name | |
| Serruria stellata Rourke
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Description
editThe shrub is small with creeping stems and grows only 20 cm (7.9 in) tall and flowers from September to November. 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 and pollinated by insects.
In Afrikaans, it is known as sterspinnekopbos.
Distribution and habitat
editThe plant occurs from the Stettyns Mountains to the western Riviersonderend Mountains. It grows in sandstone sand at elevations of 900–1,200 m (3,000–3,900 ft).
References
edit- ^ Rebelo, A.G.; Mtshali, H.; von Staden, L. (2020). "Serruria stellata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020. IUCN: e.T113239350A185593757. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T113239350A185593757.en.
- ^ "Threatened Species Programme | SANBI Red List of South African Plants". redlist.sanbi.org.
- ^ "Serruria stellata (Star spiderhead)". biodiversityexplorer.info.
- ^ "Skirted Spiderheads". www.proteaatlas.org.za.
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