Diastella buekii, the Franschhoek silkypuff, is a flower-bearing shrub that belongs to the genus Diastella and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is native to the Western Cape and occurs in the Franschhoek and Wemmershoek valleys. The shrub is flat and grows only 15 cm tall and bears flowers from August to November.
| Diastella buekii | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Proteales |
| Family: | Proteaceae |
| Genus: | Diastella |
| Species: | D. buekii
|
| Binomial name | |
| Diastella buekii (Gand.) Rourke
| |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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Fire destroys the plant but the seeds survive. Two months after flowering, the fruit falls off and ants disperse the seeds. They store the seeds in their nests. The plant is unisexual. Pollination takes place through the action of bees. The plant grows in moist sand at altitudes of 200–300 m.
References
edit- ^ Rebelo, A.G.; Raimondo, D.; Mtshali, H.; von Staden, L. (2020). "Diastella buekii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020. IUCN: e.T112605160A185540461. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T112605160A185540461.en.
- ^ "Diastella buekii". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
External links
edit- "Threatened Species Programme | SANBI Red List of South African Plants". redlist.sanbi.org. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
- "Southern Silkypuffs". proteaatlas.org.za. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
- "Diastella buekii". biodiversityexplorer.info. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
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