Serruria villosa (Lam.) R.Br.

Common Name and Classification

Serruria villosa, commonly called the golden spiderhead, is a flowering shrub in the genus Serruria that forms part of the fynbos vegetation.

Native Range

This plant is native to South Africa's Western Cape, where it grows only on the Cape Peninsula and immediately south of Constantia.

Growth Form and Flowering Period

It is an erect shrub that reaches only 50 cm in height, and produces flowers from April to July.

Fire Response

Fire kills the entire above-ground plant, but its seeds survive wildfire.

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 and Pollination

Serruria villosa is a bisexual plant, and pollination is carried out by insects.

Habitat and Elevation

It grows in sandy soil at elevations between 0 and 350 m.

Afrikaans Common Name

In Afrikaans, the species is called gouespinnekopbos.