Protea magnifica

Protea magnifica, commonly known as the queen protea,[1][3][4] is a shrub,[5] which belongs to the genus Protea within the family Proteaceae,[1][4] and which is native to South Africa.[1][2]

Protea magnifica
Protea magnifica developing inflorescence
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Proteales
Family: Proteaceae
Genus: Protea
Species:
P. magnifica
Binomial name
Protea magnifica
Synonyms[2]
  • Protea barbigera Meisn.
  • Scolymocephalus barbiger (Meisn.) Kuntze

The species is also called queen sugarbush,[1][5] bearded sugarbush or woolly beard. In the Afrikaans language the vernacular names baardprotea, baardsuikerbos, baard-suikerbos, koninginprotea, suikerbosprotea, wolbaardsuikerbos and wolbaard-suikerbos have all been recorded for the plant.[1]

Taxonomy

The International Plant Names Index attributes the authorship of Protea magnifica to Henry Cranke Andrews,[6] but the South African National Biodiversity Institute attributes it to Johann Heinrich Friedrich Link.[1]

Description

It grows either as an erect or as a sprawling shrub, growing up to 2.5 metres (8.2 ft) in height. The inflorescences are specialised structures called pseudanthia, also known simply as flower heads, containing hundred of reduced flowers, called florets. It is monoecious, both sexes occur in each flower.[5] It blooms in spring,[4] from June to January. The fruit, containing a seed, is kept within the old, dried infructescence which is retained persistently on the plant.[5]

Distribution

This plant is endemic to the Cape Region of South Africa,[1][2] where it only occurs in the Western Cape province.[1] It occurs in the Koue Bokkeveld to Hottentots Holland, Klein Swartberg, Riviersonderend,[5] Franschhoek[4] and central Langeberg mountain ranges. It is spatially distributed as isolated stands.[5]

Ecology

It is pollinated by birds. The wildfires which periodically move through the land in which the shrub grows destroy the adult plants, but the seeds can survive such an event. When released, the seeds are dispersed by means of the wind.[5]

Habitat

It grows high in the mountains on hot, dry mountain slopes near the snow line, at altitudes between 1,200 and 2,700 metres.[5] It exclusively occurs in a fynbos habitat, but it occur in many different sub-types of this general habitat. It usually grows in substrates derived of sandstone, but may sometimes grow on quartzite.[1]

Uses

This the most prized cut flower in the trade. In 1998, the best flower heads were still said come from the wild, and were often harvested for this purpose.[5]

Conservation

Protea magnifica is not threatened,[1][5] and is locally common.[5] As of 2019 the total population numbers were believed to be stable. The South African National Biodiversity Institute first assessed this species for the Red List of South African Plants in 2009, rating the conservation status as 'least concern. In 2019 this assessment was reiterated.[1]

References
  1. Rebelo, A.G.; Mtshali, H.; von Staden, L. (3 June 2019). "Queen Protea". Red List of South African Plants. version 2020.1. South African National Biodiversity Institute. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  2. "Protea magnifica Andrews". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2017. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  3. Wiersema, John H.; León, Blanca (1999). World Economic Plants: A Standard Reference (illustrated ed.). CRC Press. p. 693. ISBN 9780849321191.
  4. "Protea magnifica (Queen protea)". Biodiversity Explorer. Iziko - Museums of South Africa. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  5. "Bearded Sugarbushes - Proteas". Protea Atlas Project Website. 11 March 1998. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  6. "Protea magnifica". International Plant Names Index. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Harvard University Herbaria & Libraries and Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 6 September 2020.


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