Paranomus adiantifolius

Paranomus adiantifolius, the hairy-style sceptre, is a flower-bearing shrub that belongs to the genus Paranomus and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is native to the Western Cape, South Africa.

Paranomus adiantifolius
Conservation status
Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Proteales
Family:	Proteaceae
Genus:	Paranomus
Species:	P. adiantifolius
Binomial name
Paranomus adiantifolius Salisb. ex Knight
Synonyms[2]
Nivenia parvifolia R.Br. Paranomus parvifolius (R.Br.) Kuntze Protea gustaviana Poir. Protea sceptrum Lam. Protea spathulata Willd. ex Spreng.

Description

The shrub grows 1.7 m (5.6 ft) tall and flowers mainly from September to November. Fire destroys the plant but the seeds survive. The plant is bisexual and pollinated by insects. The fruit ripens two months after flowering, and the seeds fall to the ground where they are spread by ants.

In Afrikaans, it is known as harigestylsepter.

Distribution and habitat

The plant occurs at Wolfieskop in the Riviersonderend Mountains, Groenlandberg, and Houhoek. It grows in sandstone soil at altitudes of 500–1,000 m (1,600–3,300 ft).