Protea simplex
Species of plant
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Protea simplex, the dwarf grassveld sugarbush, is a flower-bearing shrub belonging to the genus Protea. It is native to South Africa.
| Protea simplex | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Proteales |
| Family: | Proteaceae |
| Genus: | Protea |
| Species: | P. simplex |
| Binomial name | |
| Protea simplex E.Phillips | |
In Afrikaans, it is known as slanksuikerbos.[citation needed]
Description
The plant is small, flattened, and grows 16 cm (6.3 in) in diameter. It flowers from December to March. The plant sprouts again after it has burned. The seeds are stored in a shell, released after 9–12 months and spread by the wind. The plant is unisexual. Pollination takes place through the action of birds.
Distribution and habitat
The plant occurs on the escarpment of the Drakensberg from Mariepskop through Mpumalanga and Eswatini to Vryheid in KwaZulu-Natal. The plant grows rotas-like, open grasslands in acid soil at altitudes of 1,300–2,150 m (4,270–7,050 ft).