Serruria aitonii R.Br.

Taxonomy and Common Name

Serruria aitonii, commonly called the marshmallow spiderhead, is a flowering shrub in the genus Serruria and a member of the fynbos vegetation type.

Native Distribution

It is native to the Western Cape province of South Africa, where its natural range extends from the Cederberg and Sandveld regions to the Groot-Winterhoek Mountains and Piketberg.

Growth Form and Size

This round-growing shrub reaches a mature height of 1.0 meter, and it produces flowers from July to November each year.

Fire Response

Wildfires kill the adult plant, but its seeds are able to survive fire events.

Seed Dispersal

Two months after flowering finishes, the fruit drops off the plant, and ants disperse the seeds by storing them in their nests.

Reproduction

Serruria aitonii is a unisexual plant, and pollination of its flowers is carried out by insects.

Habitat and Elevation

It grows in mountainous habitat in rocky sandstone soils at elevations between 600 and 900 meters.

Afrikaans Common Name

In Afrikaans, the species is called malvalekker-spinnekopbos.