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Afrikaanse Inligting
Tileleaf Powderpuff - Sorocephalus imbricatus
The Tileleaf Powderpuff is one of our really rare plant species. Several populations occur at Tulbagh Waterfall. Two other records - Piketberg and Winterhoek Mountains - have not been relocated for over 50 years.
The Tileleaf Powderpuff was collected frequently by early travellers. It was grown in England at the beginning of the 1800s at Kew and Clapham. This is in total contrast to its rarity in the wild. It is listed as Endangered with extinction - mainly due to Pine plantations and too frequent fires.
Numbers of plants known depend on fire age. After a fire the seeds germinate and the plants grow rapidly, first flowering when 3-4 years old. Thereafter there is a high mortality and many plants die. In 10 to 15 year-old veld only a few plants may remain (in 1972 only three plants were known, in 1987 only two plants). However, after a fire, the populations may increase to several dozen plants when the seeds germinate. Germination only occurs after a fire - the seeds are stored safely in ant's nests Powderpuffs (also known as Clusterheads) are rare! Other important species in the area are:
Sorocephalus scabridus Tulbagh Powderpuff - with needle leaves and hairless flower tips.
Sorocephalus capitatus Woolly Powderpuff - with narrow leaves and hairy flower tips.
The Tileleaf Powderpuff has flat, wide leaves.