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Identifying Spiderheads - Serruria
The genus Serruria can easily be recognized by their dissected leaves which have cylindrical segments. The florets each have a conspicuous floral bract, and consist of four free tepals united only at their bases. Florets are grouped into flowerheads which may be a lax or dense raceme of terminal clusters of florets, or only a single terminal cluster of florets. Involucral bracts are infrequent and loosely arranged on the flowerhead stalk. The fruit is a small hard nut, sparsely covered with hair and containing a basal ant-fruit.
Spiderheads are largely confined to the winter-rainfall area and extend as far east as Mossel Bay along the coast.
The Spiderheads were last revised in 1912, and therefore their taxonomy is certainly outdated. New species have been discovered and described and several more await description. Furthermore, those species described in 1912 are not all valid. The species accounts below outline the species as I currently understand them, and must be considered preliminary. Spiderheads form two major groups (the solitary capitulum group and the multi-headed racemose group) which may in fact comprise two genera. Hopefully, Dr John Rourke will revise this genus within the next few years.
The sections too are speculative, and, at this stage, must be seen only as groupings of convenience rather than reflecting relationships. The key provided is thus only a rough index to the groups.
- The Curly section is especially difficult, as the common stalk may be reduced so as to appear absent (nervosa and roxburghii) on one extreme and a 20-50 mm long stalk on the other.
- Another problem concerns species which have 1-many flowerheads linked to a common basal stalk: In these the form with a single flowerhead may be placed into the incorrect grouping. Species affected include: inconspicua in the Pin section and nervosa in the Curly section. The reverse applies with aitonii (Paw section) and aemula (Skirted section), which are here regarded as basal members (most primitive) of these groups.
Key to Spiderheads
1. Flowerheads comprising a single head (beware multiple flowerheads on a branch) goto 2
1' Flowerheads comprising multiple headlets goto 4
2. Styles (and buds) curved inwards goto Paw Spiderheads
2' Styles (and buds) straight goto 3
3. Involucral bracts prominent goto Skirted Spiderheads
3' Involucral bracts inconspicuous goto Sessile & Milleleaf Spiderheads
4. Flowerheads stalks long, leaves robust goto Elongate Spiderheads
4' Flowerhead stalks shorter than 50 mm goto 5
5. Floral bracts large, plants creeping - stems lying on ground. goto Whipleaf Spiderheads
5. Floral bracts inconspicuous, habit various goto 6
6. Styles (and buds) straight goto Pin Spiderheads
6. Styles (and buds) curved inwards goot Curly Spiderheads
Serruria The Pin Spiderheads
The Pin Spiderheads are (Section Fasciflorae) characterized by having straight florets borne in many loose bundles on short common stalks (that is, a panicle). Within the section there is a progression from a panicle of many lax racemes to a panicle of two or three capitula. Generally flowerheads are few flowered. The leaves of Pin Spiderheads tend to be fine and thin, rather than robust.
Serruria inconspicua CRYPTIC SPIDERHEAD
A sprawling shrub 0.2-0.3 m tall. Leaves with crispy hairs.
Flowerhead inconspicuous and hidden by leaves, axillary-terminal,
a panicle of 1-5 lax racemes each bearing 3-8 Florets,
6-10 mm long, 7-9 mm across; stalk short.
Serruria candicans SHINY SPIDERHEAD
Leaves erect, dissected, 18-25 tipped, tips with a sharp, fine
point, 25-55 mm long, 2-15 mm wide, with silver, woolly
hairs, leaf-stalk 1-15 mm long.
Serruria fasciflora COMMON PIN SPIDERHEAD
Flowerhead apically-terminal, a panicle of 10-15 racemes each
bearing 5-7 Florets, umbellate, 15-25 mm long,
20-15 mm across; common stalk short, hairy; faint sweet
scent.
Serruria kraussii SNOWBALL SPIDERHEAD
Leaves erect, dissected, 20-29 tipped, tips round, 50-75 mm
long, 30-65 mm wide, hairless; leaf-stalk 20 mm long.
Flowerhead apically-terminal, a panicle of 5-12 headlets each
bearing 15-30 Florets, globose, 65-70 mm across. Involucral
bracts lanceolate, nearly hairless.
Serruria zeyheri MATCHSTICK SPIDERHEAD
Tepals white with shiny-black, hairless tips, conspicuous while
in bud.
Serruria viridifolia MAT SPIDERHEAD. A creeping shrub forming mats up to 0.3 m tall and 2 m across. Leaves pointing vertically from a horizontal stem, dissected, 8-12 tipped, 20-50 mm long, 15-40 mm wide, hairless, green; leaf-stalk 10-20 mm long. Tepals with minute hairs, white.
Serruria The Curly Spiderheads
The Curly Spiderheads (Section Decipiensae) are characterized by Florets which are slightly to markedly curved in bud. The Florets are borne in loose flowerheads on a short common stalk. The two exceptions are: S. collina has stalks 20-50 mm long; S. roxburghii has crowded flowerheads united to a very short common stalk which is not easily seen. Like the Pin Spiderheads to which they are closely related, the Curly Spiderheads tend to have fine rather than stout leaves.
Serruria rubricaulis RED-STEM SPIDERHEAD
A prostrate shrub 0.1-0.3 m tall, up to 0.5 m across, with a
rootstock and creeping, red branches. Leaves curved upwards to
pointing vertically from a horizontal stem, dissected, 12-18
tipped, tips rounded with a fine point, 35-45 mm long,
20-25 mm wide, hairless; leaf-stalk 20-25 mm long.
Flowerhead apically-terminal, a lax panicle of 5-25 racemes each
bearing 6-10 Florets; upper stalk short and thick, hairy.
Involucral bracts absent.
Serruria adscendens KLEINMOND SPIDERHEAD
A rounded shrub 0.5-1 m tall, up to 0.5 m across.
Trunk 20 mm diameter. Leaves erect, dissected, 10-17 tipped,
tips rounded with a fine point, 25-65 mm long, 20-25 mm
wide, hairless; leaf-stalk 15-25 mm long. Flowerhead
apically-terminal, a lax panicle of 5-25 racemes each bearing
6-10 florets; upper stalk short and thick, hairy; strong sweet
scent.
Serruria decipiens SANDVELD
SPIDERHEAD
Leaves curved upwards, dissected, 12-15 tipped, tips rounded with
a fine point, 30-45 mm long, 15-20 mm wide, hairless
when mature; leaf-stalk 15-20 mm long. Flowerhead a lax
panicle of 5-10 racemes each bearing 6-10 florets, umbellate.
Serruria collina LOST SPIDERHEAD
A sprawling shrub. Leaves pointing vertically from a horizontal
stem, dissected, 13-43 tipped, tips with a blunt point,
50-150 mm long, 40 mm wide, hairless; leaf-stalk
40-60 mm long. Flowerhead apically-terminal, a panicle of
8-15 racemes each bearing 5-12 florets sweet scent.
Serruria glomerata CLUSTER SPIDERHEADFlowerhead axillary terminal, up to 3 per branch, a dense panicle of 4-8 lax racemes each bearing 20-40 florets. Involucral bracts few, densely overlapping.
Serruria roxburghii SHORTLEAF SPIDERHEAD
Leaves curved upwards, dissected, 13-17 tipped, tips with a sharp
fine point, 10-25 mm long, 5-10 mm wide, hairless when
mature; leaf-stalk 8-10 mm long. Involucral bracts ovate.
Serruria nervosa FLUTED
SPIDERHEAD
Leaves curved upwards, dissected, 11-19 tipped, tips with a
sharp, fine point, 20-45 mm long, 10-20 mm wide,
hairless; leaf-stalk 10 mm long. Flowerhead stalk 2-6 mm
long, hairless; sweet scent. Note- S. nervosa -spreading hairs on
the tepal tips and headlets racemes S. bolusii - hairs slightly
adpressed and headlets capitula.
Serruria "piketbergensis" -PIKETBERG SPIDERHEAD
The Tulbagh Spiderhead (section Triternatae) is a robust plant bearing an untidy, dense flowerhead with the heads forming a flat top on a very short common stalk. It has long and stout leaves, comparable only with the Stalked Spiderheads to which it is closely related.
Serruria triternata TULBAGH SPIDERHEAD
Leaves stout, curved upwards, dissected, 12-16 tipped, tips with
a pointed callous, 65-140 mm long, 30-35 mm wide,
hairless when mature; leaf-stalk 20-45 mm long. Flowerhead
stalk short, hairy.
Serruria The Stalked Spiderheads
The Stalked Spiderheads (section Elongatae) are easy to distinguish with their long common stalks of over 80 mm long. The exception is S. confragosa, which instead of leafless stalks has long, erect, wavy, leafy stems. The flowerheads are either a panicle of lax racemes or a panicle of capitula. The leaves of the Stalked Spiderheads are among the stoutest and most robust in the genus and are often clustered in tufts at the base of the flowerhead.
Serruria confragosa WAVY SPIDERHEAD
An erect, sparsely-branched shrub, with erect wavy stems.
Flowerhead stalk 20-50 mm long.
Serruria leipoldtii LOUIS
LEIPOLDT'S SPIDERHEAD
A multi-stemmed, erect shrub 0.3-1 m tall, 0.3 m across, with a
rootstock. Leaves erect, dissected, 25-35 tipped, tips with a
sharp, fine point, 65-105 mm long, 20-25 mm wide,
hairless; leaf-stalk 25-50 mm long. Flowerhead stalk
40-100 mm long. Floral bracts hairy.
Serruria meisneriana DAINTY SPIDERHEAD
Flowerhead stalk 80-140 mm long. Involucral and floral
bracts strongly keeled, ovate, pink, 8-10 mm long. Tepals pink
with dark, rounded tips, hairless.
Serruria elongata LONGSTALK
SPIDERHEAD
Leaves whorled below flowerhead stalk, curved upwards, dissected,
60-70 tipped, tips rounded with a fine point, 50-150 mm
long, 50-70 mm wide, hairless; leaf-stalk 20-50 mm
long. Floral bracts hairless.
Serruria williamsii KING SPIDERHEAD
Leaves whorled below flowerhead stalk, curved upwards, dissected,
stout, fleshy, 19-25 tipped, 150-220 mm long, 30-40 mm
wide, hairless; leaf-stalk 100-125 mm long. Flowerhead stalk
100-300 mm long.
Serruria altiscapa STATELY SPIDERHEAD
Leaves whorled near ground level below flowerhead stalk, erect,
dissected, 20-30 tipped, 120-230 mm long, 65-140 mm
wide; leaf-stalk 60-75 mm long. Flowerhead stalk
200-900 mm long. Involucral bracts ovate, with prominent
wings.
Serruria The Paw Spiderheads
The Paw Spiderheads (section Acrocarpae) have slightly to strongly curved florets borne in a solitary flowerhead (capitulum) with a conspicuous stalk (peduncle). All four Serruria species with hairs on the lower style are Paw Spiderheads. They also retain part of the style on the fruit. The Paw Spiderheads tend to be a montane group.
Identifying Paw Spiderheads requires some practice. Initiates should note whether the plants are single-stemmed or multi-stemmed, and erect or creeping. Thereafter note the nature of the hairs on the leaf, whether buds have hairs which are spreading or adpressed, and if there are hairs on the lower style. S. aitonii sometimes has straight florets.
Those species with an erect habit and single trunk are largely dealt with first on these pages. Multi-stemmed and sprawling species are presented overleaf.
Serruria aitonii MARSHMALLOW
SPIDERHEAD
Leaves silver, with crispy hairs. Flowerhead stalk 5-65 mm
long, with long hairs. Style hairless, 7-10 mm long,
straight to curved inwards.
Serruria reflexa MILKY SPIDERHEAD
Leaves erect, dissected, 15-25 tipped, 10-25 mm long,
20-25 mm wide, with silver, silky hairs; leaf-stalk 2-8 mm
long. Flowerhead stalk 50-70 mm long, hairy, laterally
deflected. Style bending outwards at ovary during flowering.
Serruria fucifolia NORTHERN
SPIDERHEAD
Leaves curved upwards, dissected, 12-15 tipped, tips with a
rounded, fine point, 35-60 mm long, 15-20 mm wide, with
dull-grey, crispy hairs; leaf-stalk 15-25 mm long.
Flowerhead stalk 20-60 mm long, hairy. Style hairless.
Serruria dodii HEX RIVER SPIDERHEAD
An erect shrub 0.6-1 m tall, 0.5 m across. Leaves curved
upwards, dissected, 25-30 tipped, tips rounded, 30-50 mm
long, 15-20 mm wide, with silver, silky hairs; leaf-stalk
5-10 mm long. Tepals silver, with adpressed, silver, silky
hairs. Style hairy below.
Serruria pedunculata FANLEAF SPIDERHEAD
Leaves erect, dissected, 45-60 tipped, tips round-callous or with
a fine point, fan-shaped, 20-50 mm long, 15-25 mm wide,
with grey hairs; leaf-stalk 8-15 mm long. Tepals carmine,
with long spreading white hairs. Style hairy below.
Serruria flava WUPPERTAL SPIDERHEAD
Leaves curved upwards, dissected, 25-50 tipped, tips with a red,
rounded callous, 12-35 mm long, 10-25 mm wide, with silver,
silky hairs; leaf-stalk 5-10 mm long. Tepals yellow, with
short, adpressed, silver hairs. Style hairy below.
Serruria balanocephala ACORN SPIDERHEAD
Leaves ascending, dissected, 15-30 tipped, 40-60 mm long, 15-30
mm wide, with grey hairs; stalk 10-20 mm long. Tepals carmine,
with spreading long white hairs. Style hairy below. Pollen
presenter acorn-shaped.
Serruria acrocarpa COMMON ROOTSTOCK SPIDERHEAD
A multi-stemmed, erect shrub with a rootstock. Leaves erect,
dissected, 15-45 tipped, tips with a blunt, fine point,
20-50 mm long, 15-25 mm wide, hairless when mature;
leaf-stalk 20-25 mm long. Tepals yellow or pink, with
adpressed, short, yellow or white hairs. Style hairy below.
Serruria incrassata SILVERPAW SPIDERHEAD
A prostrate shrub with creeping stems, with a rootstock. Leaves
pointing vertically from a horizontal stem, dissected, 20-30
tipped, tips with a round callous, 25-50 mm long,
10-15 mm wide, with crispy hairs; leaf-stalk 10-15 mm
long. Flowerhead stalk curving upwards, 25-75 mm long. Style
hairless.
Serruria gremialis RIVIERSONDEREND SPIDERHEAD
A sprawling shrub with creeping stems and a rootstock. Leaves
pointing vertically from a horizontal stem, dissected, pointed
callous tipped, 10-30 mm long, 10-25 mm wide, with crispy hairs
when young; leaf-stalk 2-12 mm long. Style hairy below.
Serruria cygnea SWAN SPIDERHEAD
A prostrate shrub with a rootstock, 0.1 m tall, up to 1 m
across. Branches hairless. Leaves pointing vertically from a
horizontal stem, dissected, 27-34 tipped, tips with a rounded,
fine point, 25-70 mm long, 17-23 mm wide, hairless when
mature; leaf-stalk 20-25 mm long. Flowerhead 1-50 per
branch, lying on ground. Style hairless.
Serruria effusa CANDELABRA SPIDERHEAD
A prostrate or creeping shrub. Branches laxly drooping, hairy.
Leaves pointing vertically from a horizontal stem, dissected,
stout, 10-18 tipped, tips with a rounded fine point,
40-90 mm long, 10-45 mm wide, with grey shaggy hairs or
hairless; leaf-stalk 20-40 mm long. Flowerhead 3-18 per
branch. Style hairless.
Serruria The Stalkless Spiderheads
The Stalkless Spiderheads (section Millefoliae) contains two distinct groups of Serruria species with straight florets and hairless styles. The Sessile Spiderheads have a solitary flowerhead per branch, sitting on top of dense leaves which hide the flowerhead base. The stalk may be absent or, when present, the base of the flowerhead is clasped by the leaves. The tepals have white hairs at the tips. The Bottle-brush Spiderheads are further distinguished by their erect stems with short, many-branched leaves with a short leaf-stalk, giving a bottle-brush appearance.
Serruria hirsuta SWARTKOP SPIDERHEAD
Leaves erect, dissected, 9-15 tipped, tip a fine point,
30-35 mm long, 15-20 mm wide, with silky hairs;
leaf-stalk 15-20 mm long. Flowerhead stalk 0-10 mm
long. Involucral bracts covering stalk base.
Serruria villosa GOLDEN SPIDERHEAD
Tepals yellow, base hairless, tip with spreading, white, shaggy
hairs.
Serruria rostellaris REMOTE SPIDERHEAD
Leaves erect, dissected, 12-17 tipped, tips with a fine point,
15-25 mm long, 12-18 mm wide, hairless; leaf-stalk
6-10 mm long. Flowerhead stalkless. Involucral bracts
encircling flowerhead base, purplish,.
Serruria deluvialis GRASS SPIDERHEAD
Leaves erect, dissected, 1-5 tipped, 45-80 mm long,
10-20 mm wide, hairless; leaf-stalk 15-60 mm long.
Flowerhead apically-terminal, stalkless, comprising 10-14
florets, globose, 15-18 mm across. Style 7-8 mm long.
Serruria brownii BOTTLEBRUSH
SPIDERHEAD
Leaves crowded, curved upwards, dissected, 7-11 tipped, tips with
a blunt, fine point, 15-25 mm long, 12-18 mm wide, with grey
hairs; leaf-stalk 5 mm long.
Serruria millefolia MILLILEAF SPIDERHEAD
Leaves crowded, erect, dissected, 8-10 tipped, tips with a blunt,
fine point, 5-14 mm long, 5-10 mm wide, with grey, crispy
hairs; leaf-stalk 3-5 mm long.
Serruria The Sprawling Skirted Spiderheads
The Skirted Spiderheads (section Phylecoideae) have solitary flowerheads with a distinct stalk and florets which are straight (or very slightly kinked) in bud. The Mountain species tend to be erect plants with a conspicuous involucre of bracts below the florets. By contrast Lowland species tend to be sprawling or straggly and although most possess a distinct involucre of bracts, these are not conspicuous once the florets have begun to open. The Lowland forms are direly threatened by urbanization and agriculture.
Serruria aemula STRAWBERRY SPIDERHEAD
Flowerhead axillary-terminal, a panicle of 1-12 headlets of 12-20
florets each, globose, 7-13 mm long, 12-18 mm across; stalk 0-14
mm long; sweet scent. Involucral bracts linear, with long hairs.
Variation: In the Firgrove area a more densely leaved and
flowered form (S. a. var. congesta) occurs. S.
foeniculacea from Rondevlei is probably a form of this
species.
Serruria cyanoides WYNBERG SPIDERHEAD
A multi-stemmed, erect shrub with a rootstock. Leaves hairless
when mature. Flowerhead stalk 15-30 mm long, with long
hairs.
Serruria furcellata KRAAIFONTEIN SPIDERHEAD
A multi-stemmed, erect shrub with a rootstock. Leaves hairless.
Flowerhead stalk 15-30 mm long. Tepals pink, swollen below.
Serruria trilopha TRIDENT SPIDERHEAD
An sprawling, multi-stemmed shrub with a rootstock. Leaves erect,
dissected, 3-7 sharp tipped, 5-25 mm long, 5-10 mm
wide, hairless when mature; leaf-stalk 3-5 mm long.
Flowerhead stalk 6-20 mm long, with long hairs; faint
coconut odour. Tepals pink, hairless at base, tips with silky,
silver-grey hairs.
Serruria linearis NEEDLELEAF SPIDERHEAD
A multi-stemmed, erect shrub. Leaves erect, needle-like or
dissected, 1-3 tipped, 25-60 mm long, 1-6 mm wide, hairless
when mature; leaf-stalk 20-40 mm long. Involucral bracts
ovate, hairless.
Serruria gracilis (=pinnata) GRACEFUL SPIDERHEAD
A prostrate shrub with creeping stems and a rootstock. Leaves
pointing vertically from a horizontal stem, dissected, 7-10
tipped, tips with a fine point, 15-30 mm long, 10-15 mm
wide, hairless when mature; leaf-stalk 5-15 mm long. Tepals
slender.
Serruria stellata STAR SPIDERHEAD
A prostrate shrub with creeping stems. Leaves pointing vertically
from a horizontal stem, dissected, 6-15 tipped, tips with a
fine point, 50-80 mm long, 10-30 mm wide, hairless,
leaf-stalk 20-50 mm long. Tepals slender.
Serruria phylicoides BEARDED SPIDERHEAD
Involucral bracts numerous, prominent, 6-8 mm long, linear to
lanceolate, cream to orange, inner series with sparse, short
hairs.
Serruria heterophylla SPINDLY SPIDERHEAD
Leaves erect, linear or dissected, 1-8 tipped (1-3 tipped below
flowerheads), tips with a fine point, 25-35 mm long,
1-25 mm wide, hairless; leaf-stalk 5-10 mm long.
Involucral bracts prominent, 8-14 mm long, 6-8 mm wide, ovate,
yellow or cream, hairless.
Serruria rosea ROSE SPIDERHEAD
Involucral bracts prominent, 8-25 mm long, 4-14 mm wide, ovate,
pink, margin hairy. .
Serruria florida BLUSHING BRIDE SPIDERHEAD
Involucral bracts prominent, larger than flowerheads,
20-40 mm long, 8-15 mm wide, ovate, ivory to pink,
hairless.
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