Leucadendron nitidum H.Buek ex Meisn.

Common Name and Taxonomy

Leucadendron nitidum, commonly called the Bokkeveld conebush, is a flowering shrub in the genus Leucadendron that forms part of fynbos vegetation.

Native Range

It is native to the Western Cape, South Africa, where it occurs in the Cederberg, Koue Bokkeveld, and Swartruggensberge regions.

Size and Flowering Period

This shrub grows up to 2.0 meters tall, and produces flowers from May to November each year.

Wildfire Response

The plant is killed by wildfire, but its seeds survive the event.

Seed Dispersal

Seeds are stored in a cone on female plants, and fall to the ground two months after flowering, after which they are spread by ants.

Reproduction and Pollination

L. nitidum is unisexual: individual plants bear either all male or all female flowers, and flowers are pollinated by small insects.

Habitat and Altitude

It grows primarily in sandstone-derived or quartzite-derived sand, at altitudes between 1,000 and 2,000 meters.

Afrikaans Common Name

In Afrikaans, the species is called Bokkeveld-tolbos.