Marsh Pagoda
Mimetes hirtus (L.) Knight
Mimetes hirtus is an upright, evergreen shrub in the Proteaceae family, reaching 1½–2 m in height. It is native to the southwest of the Western Cape province of South Africa, growing in wet zones at the base of south-facing mountain slopes. The shrub has lance-shaped, toothless leaves and cylindrical inflorescences with a pinkish-brown tuft. Its flowerheads are enclosed by yellow, red-tipped bracts, with red styles and whitish silky perianth tips visible. It is primarily pollinated by the Cape sugarbird. Flowering occurs from May to November, peaking in July and August. Commonly known as Marsh Pagoda.
Description
Mimetes hirtus is a shrub from the Proteaceae family, characterized by upright, overlapping, lance-shaped leaves and cylindrical inflorescences with a tuft of pinkish-brown leaves. The flowerheads are enclosed by yellow, red-tipped bracts, with red styles and whitish silky perianth tips visible. It is endemic to the southwest of the Western Cape province of South Africa, growing in wet areas at the base of south-facing mountain slopes. The species is pollinated by the Cape sugarbird and flowers from May to November, with a peak in July and August. It is known by several vernacular names, with Marsh Pagoda being the most commonly used.
Other common names
Marsh Pagoda
Distribution
Global · Cape Provinces
Synonyms
Leucadendron hirtum
