Syncarpha speciosissima
Dry flowers of the Cape everlasting
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Syncarpha
Species:
S. speciosissima
Binomial name
Syncarpha speciosissima
(L.) B.Nord.
Subspecies
  • Syncarpha speciosissima subsp. angustifolia (DC.) B.Nord.
  • Syncarpha speciosissima subsp. speciosissima (L.) B.Nord.
Synonyms[1] [2]
  • Argyrocome ferruginea Schrank
  • Argyrocome seminuda Schrank
  • Argyrocome seminula Schrank
  • Argyrocome speciosissimum (L.) Kuntze
  • Astelma speciosissimum (L.) D.Don
  • Astelma staehelina D.Don
  • Helichrysum grandiflorum Eckl.
  • Helichrysum grandiflorum Eckl. ex DC.
  • Helichrysum speciosissimum (L.) Willd.
  • Helichrysum staehelina Thunb.
  • Helipterum glabratum Sond.
  • Helipterum seminudum (Schrank) Sch.Bip.
  • Helipterum speciosissimum (L.) DC.
  • Helipterum speciosissimum subsp. angustifolium DC.
  • Helipterum speciosissimum var. angustifolium DC.
  • Helipterum speciosissimum var. speciosissimum
  • Xeranthemum speciosissimum L.
  • Xeranthemum speciosum Thunb.

Syncarpha speciosissima, the Cape everlasting or Cape sewejaartjie, is a species of plant from South Africa.

Description

Syncarpha speciosissima is a shrublet with erect stems that grows to be 20–60 cm (7.9–23.6 in) tall. It is covered in white wooly hairs and produces new shoots every year.[3] The light grey-green leaves are held close to the base of the stem and are oblong or linear in shape.[3][4]

Disc-shaped flower heads are borne on the ends of long stems between July and January. They have a diameter of 3–4 cm (1.2–1.6 in).[5] The center starts off yellow, turning brown with age.[3] The flower is surrounded by sharply pointed petal-like bracts.[4] They have a papery texture and are white or cream in colour.[5]

Distribution and habitat

This species in endemic to the Western Cape of South Africa, where it grows on sandstone slopes between the Cape Peninsula and Tradouws Pass.[5] It prefers the upper slopes of mountains and grows in open areas between bushes.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Syncarpha speciosissima subsp. angustifolia". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  2. ↑ "Syncarpha speciosissima subsp. speciosissima". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 e-Flora of South Africa. v1.36. 2022. South African National Biodiversity Institute. http://ipt.sanbi.org.za/iptsanbi/resource?r=flora_descriptions&v=1.36
  4. 1 2 3 Clarke, Hugh G.; Merry, Corinne (2019). Wild flowers of the Cape Peninsula (3rd ed.). Cape Town: Struik Nature. ISBN 978-1-77584-640-6. OCLC 1124073483.
  5. 1 2 3 Manning, John; Goldblatt, Peter (2012). Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region : 1: the core Cape flora (PDF). Pretoria: South African National Biodiversity Institute, SANBI. ISBN 978-1-919976-74-7. OCLC 852384288.
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