Protea convexa
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Large-leaf sugarbush | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Proteales |
| Family: | Proteaceae |
| Genus: | Protea |
| Species: | P. convexa |
| Binomial name | |
| Protea convexa | |
 | |
| Protea convexa distribution
Extant (resident) | |
Protea convexa, also known as large-leaf sugarbush,[3][4][5] is a rare flowering shrub in the genus Protea of the family Proteaceae,[3][4][6] which is endemic to the southwestern Cape Region of South Africa.[3][7]
The first person who is known to have collected Protea convexa was the German explorer Rudolf Marloth on plains near Matjiesfontein in September 1903. Marloth's collection of a pressed specimen (#3209)[8][9] was sent to and arrived at the Kew Herbarium in 1904, where it has been housed ever since.[9] Based on this specimen, in 1910 the South African botanist Edwin Percy Phillips then described it as a new species.[2][8] Phillips did not designate holotypes in his paper,[8] but in 1960 the South African botanist Hedley Brian Rycroft designated Marloth's specimen as such.[9] The specific epithet refers to the shape of the receptacle, the bottom of the flower head.[8]
Description
This is a flat, prostrate shrub,[5] although it has been said to grow up to 10 feet (3.0 m) high.[10] On average, individual plants have a generation length of about 20 years.[3] The leaves are very broad and large for a Protea,[4] 5–9 inches (13–23 cm) in length and 2–3.5 inches (5.1–8.9 cm) broad at the widest point.[10] The leaves are glaucous,[8][9][10] glabrous and prominently veined.[10] The flower heads are squat and compressed in shape,[9] with a convex, hemispherical receptacle (the bottom of the structure).[8] It is monoecious, both sexes occur in each flower. The seeds are stored in capsules, themselves stored in the dried old flower head.[5]
Similar species
In his initial diagnosis, Phillips found it to be most similar to Protea acaulos, or at least what he called P. acaulis var. obovata, differing in the shape of the receptacle. It also has larger, glaucous leaves and a larger flower head.[8]
Distribution
This species is endemic to the Western Cape province of South Africa.[3][7] It is specifically found in the northern Cederberg,[3] Witteberg,[3][4][5] Klein Swartberg,[3][5] Elandsberg, and Tra-Tra mountain ranges.[5] It can be found in the mountains above the Klein Karoo in the background of the village of Matjiesfontein.[3][4][9]