Protea neriifolia
Encyclopedia
Protea neriifolia, also known as oleanderleaf protea, is a flowering plant
. which is endemic to South Africa
.
ranges in colour from pink to creamy-green, with a black fringe that intergrades to white.
, between Cape Town
and Port Elizabeth. It is found at altitudes ranging from sea level to 1300
metres.
s and also birds which are attracted by the insects and nectar.
.
Other common names for the species include baardsuikerbos, and baardsuikerkan, blousuikerkan.
Flowering plant
The flowering plants , also known as Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta, are the most diverse group of land plants. Angiosperms are seed-producing plants like the gymnosperms and can be distinguished from the gymnosperms by a series of synapomorphies...
. which is endemic to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
Description
It forms a large shrub from about 3 metres to 5 metres in height. Its flower headHead (botany)
The capitulum is considered the most derived form of inflorescence. Flower heads found outside Asteraceae show lesser degrees of specialization....
ranges in colour from pink to creamy-green, with a black fringe that intergrades to white.
Distribution
Protea neriifolia occurs on sandstone-derived soils in the southern coastal mountain ranges of South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, between Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
and Port Elizabeth. It is found at altitudes ranging from sea level to 1300
metres.
Ecology
The species is pollinated by various insects including protea beetles, scarab beetleScarab beetle
Scarab beetle may refer to these species: * A beetle of the family Scarabaeidae* Scarabaeus sacer, the dung beetle species worshipped by the ancient Egyptians as an embodiment of the god Khepri...
s and also birds which are attracted by the insects and nectar.
Taxonomy
Although it was first discovered by Europeans in 1597, and was the subject of a botanical illustration in 1605, the plant was only described as a distinct species in 1810 by botanist Robert BrownRobert Brown (botanist)
Robert Brown was a Scottish botanist and palaeobotanist who made important contributions to botany largely through his pioneering use of the microscope...
.
Other common names for the species include baardsuikerbos, and baardsuikerkan, blousuikerkan.