Kammanassie Conebush
Leucadendron singulare I.Williams
Leucadendron singulare, known as the Kammanassie Conebush, is a shrub native to the Western Cape in South Africa. It is part of the fynbos vegetation and is found in the Mannetjiesberg within the Kammanassie Mountains. The plant is rare and grows in rocky crevices at elevations between 2,000 and 2,150 meters. It reaches a height of 30 cm and spreads outward. The shrub blooms in October and is dioecious, with separate male and female plants. Pollination occurs via insects. After a fire, the plant dies, but its seeds, stored in a cone on the female plant, are released and dispersed by ants.
Description
Leucadendron singulare belongs to the Proteaceae family and is found only in the Global and Cape Provinces. It was first described in 1967 by I. Williams. The plant's seeds are retained in a cone on the female plant and are released two months after blooming. The species is adapted to fire-prone environments, with seeds surviving and germinating after the parent plant is destroyed. The shrub is restricted to high-altitude rocky habitats and is considered rare.
Other common names
Kammanassie Conebush
Distribution
Global · Cape Provinces
