Paranomus sceptrum-gustavianus

Paranomus sceptrum-gustavianus, the King Gustav's sceptre, is a flowering shrub that belongs to the genus Paranomus and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is native to the Western Cape, South Africa.

Paranomus sceptrum-gustavianus
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Proteales
Family:	Proteaceae
Genus:	Paranomus
Species:	P. sceptrum-gustavianus
Binomial name
Paranomus sceptrum-gustavianus (Sparrm.) Hyl.
Synonyms[2]
Leucospermum spathulatum Drège ex Meisn. Nivenia alopecuroides Lam. ex St.-Lag. Nivenia sceptrum (Thunb.) R.Br. Nivenia sceptrum-gustavianum (Sparrm.) Druce Paranomus sceptridormis Knight Paranomus sceptrum (R.Br.) Kuntze Protea alopecuroides Lam. Protea sceptrum Thunb. Protea sceptrum-gustavianum Sparrm.

Description

The shrub grows to 1.8 m (5.9 ft) tall. The lower leaves of the shrub are finely divided and the upper one is spoon-shaped or diamond-shaped. The flowers are clustered in small heads, 16–22 mm (0.63–0.87 in) long and in cylindrical veins. The shrub blooms from July to March. Fire destroys the plant but the seeds survive. The plant is bisexual and pollination takes place through the action of insects. The fruit ripens two months after the plant has flowered and the seeds fall to the ground where they are spread by ants.

Distribution and habitat

The plant occurs from the Hottentots Holland Mountains to the western Langeberg as well as the Elim plains. The plant grows on sandstone slopes at altitudes of 150–500 mm (5.9–19.7 in).

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