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Visgat Sugarbush Skurweblaarsuikerbos - Protea piscinaVisgat Sugarbush Skurweblaarsuikerbos Known locally as the Piketberg Sugarbush, this species is common from Cederberg to Heidelberg. Amongst the local Sugarbushes it is easily identified by its rough "sandpapery" leaves and underground stems. This is not an easy species to see, and most hikers walk over the plants without realizing that they are proteas. The Latin name "piscina" refers to the Fish Pools (visgatte) at the locality from which this species was first collected for description. This species rarely flowers in mature veld. Most flowers are produced between two and seven years after a fire, after which the plants are shaded out by the other proteas. Occurring between 300 and 1000m on deep soils, the Piketberg Sugarbush flowers between June and January, but flowering has not yet been recorded by atlassers. |