About Protea cryophila Bolus
Protea cryophila, commonly known as the snowball sugarbush, snow protea, or snowball protea, is a flowering shrub that belongs to the genus Protea. This species is endemic to the Cederberg region. It is a dense, woody shrub that grows up to 3 meters (9.8 feet) in diameter, and blooms between January and April. Wildfires kill the mature plant, but its seeds survive. The seeds are stored in a protective cap, released after an extended period, and dispersed by wind. Individual plants are unisexual. Pollination is carried out by rodents. It grows in sandstone soil on rock ledges (moldings) at elevations between 1,750 and 1,900 meters (5,740 to 6,230 feet).
