Common names: Cape strawflower |
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I often think of this species as the dinosaur of the everlastings. It is a strong rigid shrub with brilliant pink bracts and large flower heads. It is common in the fynbos on mountain slopes in the Western Cape and can easily be spotted from a distance. Description Distribution Derivation of name and historical aspects: The name Phaenocoma is derived from the Greek 'phaino': to shine, and 'coma': hair. This refers to the shiny bracts, which looks like a 'shiny hairdo'. Jackson (1990) commented on the lack of hair on the bracts but did not offer an alternative explanation. Phaenocoma is a monotypic genus (only one species) restricted to the Western Cape. Ecology Uses and cultural aspects: Nothing is known about this aspect. Although the seeds germinate well I am not aware of plants raised from seed. Growing Phaenocoma prolifera The plant has potential as a garden plant or pot plant, but is not often cultivated. References
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Plants
are rigid, erect, single-stemmed, woody shrubs up to 1.2 m tall.
Main stems are up to 60 mm diameter. Branches are densely leafy
and also have numerous short leafy stalks at right angles to the
main branches. Main branches decrease in length from the base upwards
so that many plants resemble miniature Christmas trees. Leaves are
very small, knob-like. Flower heads, borne terminal on branches,
are up to 60 mm in diameter and contain 800 - 1000 individual flowers
with very showy bright pink bracts. The bracts fade to almost white
and become worn with age. Pappus is present and up to 150 pappus
bristles per flower have been counted. For more details about the
structure of these flowers see Asteraceae. Flowers are borne from
September to January.
