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Afrikaanse Inligting
Concealed Sunshinebush - Leucadendron cryptocephalum
The Concealed Conebush is a sister species to the Golden Sunshinebush. It is smaller, neater and far rarer. It is known only from three localities since its description in 1939. It is now extinct at the foot of Viljoen’s Pass. The Shaw’s Pass population is one of only two localities remaining!
Plants are about 1m tall, light green most of the year, but turning bright yellow in winter.
The species occurs on the old "surfaces" which have no largely been eroded off the Ruens - remnants exist on the edges of the mountains where the fertile shales meet the sandstone mountains. This rare habitat is endangered as it is fertile and suitable for crops.
The Concealed Conebush flowers in April and May, but the flowerheads are concealed by the leaves. The only indication of flowering is the bright yellow colour that the bushes turn (hence "sunshine bush").
The species is Endangered with extinction! It is threatened by agriculture and alien plants - including pines, wattles and needlebushes. This species is an indicator of a rare habitat, and also co-occurs with Erica jasminiflora and other very rare plant species. This is one of Caledon’s important conservation priorities.