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Afrikaanse Inligting
Flats Silkypuff Vlaktesterretjie - Diastella proteoides
The Flats Silkypuff used to occur from Muizenberg to Mamre, but is now confined to a few small remnants within the area. Some 40% of populations are confined to road verges and islands within Cape Town and surrounding areas. More worrying, some 98% of populations are threatened by alien invader plants - mainly Port Jackson Willow, but also pines. The Flats Silkypuff flowers all year round, although there are more flowers in summer than at other times. The plants do not produce nectar - pollination is by beetles and flies which visit the flowers to feed on pollen. The round white seed is produced two months after flowering. Each flowerhead may produce a single seed, which is bigger than the entire flowerhead. These seeds are collected by ants, which bury them in their nests. Here they are safe from fire and rodents. Germination only occurs after fire.