Diastella buekii

Species of flowering plant

Diastella buekii
Conservation status

Critically Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this 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]
  • Mimetes buekii Gand.

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.

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

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ "Diastella buekii". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 6 January 2022.

External links

  • "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.
Taxon identifiers
Diastella buekii
  • v
  • t
  • e