About Paranomus reflexus (E.Phillips & Hutch.) Fourc.
Paranomus reflexus, commonly called Van Staden's scepter, is a flowering shrub in the Proteaceae plant family. It is a component of South Africa's fynbos vegetation type. This species is native to the Eastern Cape of South Africa, where it grows on Elandsberg and Van Stadensberg. The shrub reaches a maximum height of 1.5 meters, and flowers between June and August each year. While fire will kill the entire plant, its seeds are able to survive fire events. Paranomus reflexus has bisexual flowers, and pollination is carried out by insects. The fruit of the plant ripens two months after flowering finishes. Once mature, seeds drop to the ground, and are dispersed by ants. This shrub grows in sandstone soil at altitudes between 1000 and 2000 meters. In Afrikaans, the plant is called Van Staden-septerboom, and its national tree number is 72.4.
