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Curly Spiderheads - Serrurias


Kleinmond Spiderhead - Serruria adscendens

Kleinmond Spiderhead - Photo: Nigel Forshaw Habit: A rounded shrub up to 1m tall
Fire survival: Killed, only seeds survive
Sexual system: Both sexes in each flower
Flowers: July - October
Pollinator: Insects
Fruit: Released 2 months after flowering
Seed dispersal: Ants
Seed storage: Underground in ants nests
Rarity status: Not threatened,  a social species
Habitat: Sandstone soils, 0-950m
Distribution: Hottentots-Holland and Groenland Mountains to Klein River Mountains

Lost Spiderhead - Serruria collina collina

Lost Spiderhead - Photo: Nigel Forshaw Habit: A sprawling shrub up to 0.1m tall
Fire survival: Resprouts after fire from an underground bole
Sexual system: Both sexes in each flower
Flowers: October
Pollinator: Insects
Fruit: Released 2 months after flowering
Seed dispersal: Ants
Seed storage: Underground in ants nests
Rarity status: Vulnerable as a result of alien acacias, known only from a single population on the top of Karbonkelberg
Habitat: Sandstone soils, 500m
Distribution: Karbonkelberg on the Cape Peninsula
Note: This is a photograph taken from the Karbonkelberg population which is more upright and less robust than the southern subspecies

Lost Spiderhead - Serruria collina flagellaris

Lost Spiderhead - Photo: Nigel Forshaw Habit: A robust sprawling shrub up to 0.1m tall
Fire survival: Resprouts after fire from an underground bole
Sexual system: Both sexes in each flower
Flowers: July - October
Pollinator: Insects
Fruit: Released 2 months after flowering
Seed dispersal: Ants
Seed storage: Underground in ants nests
Rarity status: Vulnerable as a result of alien acacias, known from 4 populations
Habitat: Sandstone soils, 150-500m
Distribution: Southern Cape Peninsula
Note: This is a photograph taken from the Rooikrans population which is more sprawling and more robust than the northern subspecies

Sandveld Spiderhead - Serruria decipiens

Sandveld Spiderhead - Photo: Nigel Forshaw Habit: A rounded shrub up to 1m tall
Fire survival: Killed, only seeds survive
Sexual system: Both sexes in each flower
Flowers: July - October
Pollinator: Insects
Fruit: Released 2 months after flowering
Seed dispersal: Ants
Seed storage: Underground in ants nests
Rarity status:Not threatened,  still common north of Cape Town in dense colonies
Habitat: Sandstone and sandy soils, 0-250m
Distribution: Sandveld, Hopefield and Cape Flats, Piketberg and Olifants River Mountains

Cluster Spiderhead - Serruria glomerata

Cluster Spiderhead - Photo: Nigel Forshaw Habit: Erect shrub up to 0.4m tall
Fire survival: Killed, only seeds survive
Sexual system: Both sexes in each flower
Flowers: August - October
Pollinator: Insects
Fruit: Released 2 months after flowering
Seed dispersal: Ants
Seed storage: Underground in ants nests
Rarity status: Locally common in dense isolated stands
Habitat: Sandy soils, 0-330m
Distribution: Cape Peninsula and Cape Flats

Fluted Spiderhead - Serruria nervosa

Fluted Spiderhead - Photo: Andrew Tiltman Habit: Low, erect shrub 0.3m tall
Fire survival: Killed, only seeds survive
Sexual system: Both sexes in each flower
Flowers: July - November
Pollinator: Insects
Fruit: Released 2 months after flowering
Seed dispersal: Ants
Seed storage: Underground in ants nests
Rarity status: Not threatened, locally abundant as scattered plants
Habitat: Calcareous and acid sands, 20-100m
Distribution: Klein River Mountains to Elim Flats and seawards

Piketberg Spiderhead - Serruria "piketbergensis"

Piketberg Spiderhead - Photo: Nigel Forshaw Habit: A rounded shrub up to 0.3m tall
Fire survival: Resprouts after fire from an underground bole
Sexual system: Both sexes in each flower
Flowers: September - October
Pollinator: Insects
Fruit: Released 2 months after flowering
Seed dispersal: Ants
Seed storage: Underground in ants nests
Rarity status: Not threatened
Habitat: Sandstone and sandy soils, 0-250m
Distribution: Piketberg and Olifants River Mountains
Note: A possible new species but similar to Serruria decipiens

Short-leaf Spiderhead - Serruria roxburghii

Short-leaf Spiderhead - Photo: Nigel Forshaw Habit: An erect shrub up to 1m tall
Fire survival: Killed, only seeds survive
Sexual system: Both sexes in each flower
Flowers: September - November
Pollinator: Insects
Fruit: Released 2 months after flowering
Seed dispersal: Ants
Seed storage: Underground in ants nests
Rarity status: Endangered due to agriculture, 5 localities known
Habitat: Sandy patches, 120-160m
Distribution: Paarl Mountain, Paardenerg (Malmesbury) and Riebeek-Kasteel

Red-stem Spiderhead - Serruria rubricaulis

Red-stem Spiderhead - Photo: Nigel Forshaw Habit: Low, erect shrub 0.3m tall
Fire survival: Resprouts from an underground bole
Sexual system: Both sexes in each flower
Flowers: July - November
Pollinator: Insects
Fruit: Released 2 months after flowering
Seed dispersal: Ants
Seed storage: Underground in ants nests
Rarity status: Not threatened, locally abundant as scattered plants
Habitat: Calcareous and acid sands, 20-100m
Distribution: Klein River Mountains to Elim Flats and seawards

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