Protea aristata
Encyclopedia
Protea aristata was first collected by the botanists T. P. Stokoe and R. Primos in 1928 near the town of Ladismith in the Cape Province, South Africa. In spite of being locally common in the Seweweekspoort the plant species could not be found again until 1953, prior to which it was considered to be extinct. Protea aristata has become one of South Africa's most famous proteas in spite of its relatively late 'discovery'.
to 2.5m in height, up to 3m in diameter, with a single main stem up to 250mm in diameter - somewhat like a small pine tree in appearance. The leaves are upright, linear, 70 - 100mm in length, 2 - 3mm in width, terminating in a soft black acuminate
point; glabrous, glaucous-green in colour. The flower-bearing stems are upright, smooth, 5 - 7mm in diameter, and carry the flower at the apex. The flowers are an inverted cone shape to slightly bell-shaped when fully opened. The involucral bracts
are arranged in 7 to 9 series, with the outer series very broad and egg-shaped to almost rounded, nude, 10 - 15mm long, 10mm wide. Inner series long and quite broad, acuminate, 40 - 80mm in length, 20 - 25mm in width, densely hairy; innermost series spatulate
, 100 - 120mm in length, 10 - 15mm in width, terminally hooked. The bracts vary in colour from almost black in the outer series to a clear carmine
or crimson
in the inner series; the dense hairs give a silvery appearance to the bracts, which are tipped with short white hairs along the margins at the apex.
, South Africa
, between the altitudes of 750 and 2000m. Although generally considered scarce in the wild, it is in fact quite common in its area. The plant seldom forms dense communities
, rather it is found widely distributed throughout. This protea
prefers rocky outcrops, which habit has led to the survival of very old specimens protected from fire by their rocky surrounds. Flowering occurs from October to December, and occasionally as late as February.
. They are long-lived (up to 50 years), growing slowly and making a neat, compact shrub. They are fairly resistant to drought and frost. The sole limiting feature of the plant as an ornamental
cut flower is the unpleasant odour emitted by the cut stems.
Description
An upright shrubShrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
to 2.5m in height, up to 3m in diameter, with a single main stem up to 250mm in diameter - somewhat like a small pine tree in appearance. The leaves are upright, linear, 70 - 100mm in length, 2 - 3mm in width, terminating in a soft black acuminate
Leaf shape
In botany, leaf shape is characterised with the following terms :* Acicular : Slender and pointed, needle-like* Acuminate : Tapering to a long point...
point; glabrous, glaucous-green in colour. The flower-bearing stems are upright, smooth, 5 - 7mm in diameter, and carry the flower at the apex. The flowers are an inverted cone shape to slightly bell-shaped when fully opened. The involucral bracts
Bract
In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis, or cone scale. Bracts are often different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of a different color, shape, or texture...
are arranged in 7 to 9 series, with the outer series very broad and egg-shaped to almost rounded, nude, 10 - 15mm long, 10mm wide. Inner series long and quite broad, acuminate, 40 - 80mm in length, 20 - 25mm in width, densely hairy; innermost series spatulate
Leaf shape
In botany, leaf shape is characterised with the following terms :* Acicular : Slender and pointed, needle-like* Acuminate : Tapering to a long point...
, 100 - 120mm in length, 10 - 15mm in width, terminally hooked. The bracts vary in colour from almost black in the outer series to a clear carmine
Carmine
Carmine , also called Crimson Lake, Cochineal, Natural Red #4, C.I. 75470, or E120, is a pigment of a bright-red color obtained from the aluminum salt of carminic acid, which is produced by some scale insects, such as the cochineal beetle and the Polish cochineal, and is used as a general term for...
or crimson
Crimson
Crimson is a strong, bright, deep red color. It is originally the color of the dye produced from a scale insect, Kermes vermilio, but the name is now also used as a generic term for those slightly bluish-red colors that are between red and rose; besides crimson itself, these colors include...
in the inner series; the dense hairs give a silvery appearance to the bracts, which are tipped with short white hairs along the margins at the apex.
Habitat
Found on northern and southern slopes in a 60km stretch of the Swartberg mountains of the Cape ProvinceCape Province
The Province of the Cape of Good Hope was a province in the Union of South Africa and subsequently the Republic of South Africa...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, between the altitudes of 750 and 2000m. Although generally considered scarce in the wild, it is in fact quite common in its area. The plant seldom forms dense communities
Community
The term community has two distinct meanings:*a group of interacting people, possibly living in close proximity, and often refers to a group that shares some common values, and is attributed with social cohesion within a shared geographical location, generally in social units larger than a household...
, rather it is found widely distributed throughout. This protea
Protea
Protea is both the botanical name and the English common name of a genus of flowering plants, sometimes also called sugarbushes.-Etymology:...
prefers rocky outcrops, which habit has led to the survival of very old specimens protected from fire by their rocky surrounds. Flowering occurs from October to December, and occasionally as late as February.
Cultivation
Protea aristata can be grown from seed; there are some magnificent specimens in the National Botanical Gardens at Kirstenbosch, Cape TownCape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
. They are long-lived (up to 50 years), growing slowly and making a neat, compact shrub. They are fairly resistant to drought and frost. The sole limiting feature of the plant as an ornamental
Ornamental plant
Ornamental plants are plants that are grown for decorative purposes in gardens and landscape design projects, as house plants, for cut flowers and specimen display...
cut flower is the unpleasant odour emitted by the cut stems.