Protea scabra R.Br.

Growth Form

Protea scabra R.Br. is a long-lived shrub that forms dense mats of root-like underground rhizomes that can reach up to 50 centimeters in diameter.

Tufts of leaves that eventually produce flowers grow above the soil surface.

Lifespan and Fire Response

Individual plants can live for more than a century, and they resprout from their underground stems after fires.

Reproductive Biology

Ecologically, this species is monoecious, with each individual flower containing both male and female reproductive structures.

Flowering Period

It blooms between April and October, with its flowering peak occurring from July to October.

Pollinators

Pollination may happen through the activity of rodents, though birds may also act as pollinators for this plant.

Seed Storage

Seeds are stored in the plant's woody fruit, which remains attached to the plant for one to two years.

Seed Release and Dispersal

The fruit only opens after a fire to release the stored seeds, which are then dispersed by wind.

Habitat and Elevation

This Protea species grows on flats or low slopes in mountainous regions, at elevations between 50 and 900 meters above sea level.

Soil and Vegetation Type

It most commonly grows in shale soil, but can also be found growing in sandstone fynbos.