About Leucadendron loeriense I.Williams
Common Name and Taxonomy
Leucadendron loeriense, commonly called the Loerie conebush, is a flowering shrub in the genus Leucadendron that is part of the fynbos vegetation.
Distribution
This plant is native to the Western Cape province of South Africa, occurring in the Elandsberg, Baviaanskloof, and Groot-Winterhoek mountains.
Size and Flowering Period
It grows to a height of 2.5 meters, and flowers between December and January.
Fire Response
Intense fire will kill the mature plant, but its seeds survive the event.
Seed Storage and Dispersal
Seeds are stored in a cone on female plants, and are released after the plant burns, after which they fall to the ground and may be dispersed by wind.
Reproduction and Pollination
This species is unisexual, with separate individual plants producing either male or female flowers, which are pollinated by insects.
Habitat and Elevation
It grows primarily in sandstone soils, at elevations between 450 and 1200 meters.
Designations and Vernacular Name
It has been assigned a national tree number of 80.7, and is known as loerietolbos in Afrikaans.
