About Paranomus spicatus (P.J.Bergius) Kuntze
Paranomus spicatus, commonly called the Kogelberg sceptre, is a flowering shrub. It belongs to the genus Paranomus and is a member of the fynbos vegetation type. This plant is native to the Western Cape province of South Africa, where it occurs in the Hottentots Holland Mountains, ranging from Sir Lowry's Pass to the Kogelberg area. The shrub reaches a maximum height of 1 meter, and flowers between September and November. While fire will kill the mature plant, its seeds can survive fire events. P. spicatus is a bisexual species, and pollination is carried out by insects. The fruit of the plant ripens two months after flowering finishes. After ripening, seeds fall to the ground, and are then spread by ants. It grows in shale soils that are also suitable for vineyards, at elevations between 200 and 300 meters above sea level. In Afrikaans, this species goes by the common names perdebos and poppies.
