Liparia splendens
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Liparia splendens | |
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Genus: | Liparia |
| Species: | L. splendens |
| Binomial name | |
| Liparia splendens | |
| Subspecies[1] | |
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Liparia splendens is endemic to the fynbos of South Africa.[2]
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Liparia splendens (locally called orange nodding-head or mountain dahlia; “Skaamblom” (Shy flower) in Afrikaans) is a flowering fynbos shrub of the Fabaceae (legume) family, that occurs in the South-western Cape of South Africa.
In spite of its common name, this plant is in fact unrelated to Dahlia, and is part of the legume family.
This multi-branching, re-sprouting, flowering shrub reaches about 1 metre in height. The flowers ("nodding heads") appear from autumn until summer. The flower heads each comprise over 15 individual flowers and are orange-yellow in colour.
The flowers resemble those of Protea, as they have adapted to the same pollinator, the sunbird.
The plant can survive the frequent fynbos fires as it has a large, strong underground root-stock from which it resprouts. However it can be challenging to grow in cultivation unless its needs are met, which are moderate temperatures and humidity, and well-draining soil.[3]
